DAVE TRAXSON - KEY POINTS and QUESTIONS RE: OVER-PRESCRIPTION OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS FOR CHILDREN. - LET'S STOP THE MEDICALISATION BY STEALTH OF CHILDHOOD AND CHALLENGE THE POWER OF BIG PHARMA TO DRUG OUR CHILDREN IN THE U.K.



THE STRESS BUCKET METAPHOR (Traxson 1993) - Accumulating stress and anxiety is, in my experience, often the trigger for behavioural difficulties for children at school and home and should be considered before the dramatic step to medicate a child. The basic principle is:                                     

Reduce the level of stress, by for example'repunctuating ' their day, along with boosting a child's self-esteem and the behaviours often automatically reduce in intensity, severity, duration and impact thus allowing the child to succeed again and gain back more control over their life.





SAFEGUARDING IS PARAMOUNT TO ALL PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH CHILDREN.WE AS PROFESSIONALS HAVE THE 'ETHICAL LEGITIMACY' TO CHALLENGE PRACTICE FROM OTHERS THAT CONCERNS US DEEPLY.



Adventure Therapy can channel aggression as can many acceptable physical outlets reducing behavioural difficulties and diagnosis.





Learn self-discipline with martial arts training to deal positively with feelings and again reduces the need for medication.



Letting off steam in fun ways is a good way to control your emotions BUT these young people could be diagnosed with a condition as they may appear to be impulsive which is the core diagnostic criteria for ADHD in the DSM Manuals.Who ensures that the definition of impulsive is not SUBJECTIVE.





Get your highs from normal activities not prescribed stimulants.That will reduce negative emotions and pain and give you a sense of empowerment to cope with challenges.



Use music to let your emotions flow and channel them positively!





YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE MANY WAYS TO REDIRECT THEIR NEGATIVE FEELINGS INTO ACCEPTABLE OUTLETS.



TOXICITY TO A CHILDS DEVELOPING BRAIN IS THE GREATEST RISK.THERE IS NO BENIGN PART TO A DRUG TREATMENT.ALL DRUGS WORK BECAUSE OF THEIR TOXICITY AND BY POISONING PARTICULAR BIOCHEMICAL OR NEUROLOGICAL PATHWAYS-THAT IS HOW DRUGS WORK!WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE RISK:BENEFIT ANALYSIS FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL CASE.



More and more young people are trapped in a cycle of drug dependancy,legally prescribed stimulants or illegally obtained.



Prescription amphetamine drugs and central nervous system stimulants including Ritalin are the most abused prescription drugs being often sold on illegally and can cause significant harm to recipients. Is this level of misuse recorded and evaluated?

Each R tab has a street value of £5 in the U.K.($10 in U.S.) and is widely sold as a substitute for "speed"(known as 'kiddy speed') with some YP / parents sometimes profitting from this abuse. Amphetamines are also the most abused illegal street drug.

So either way amphetamines and 'amphetamine like' drugs ( C.N.S. stimulants) should be closely monitored and controlled.




Prescription rates vary like a post code lottery in England. There is a 23 fold variance across the U.K. 
So this proves it can not be a "medical epidemic,"otherwise it would have a more uniform distribution. It is therefore a 'social construct' created by the society / community in which we live.

Why would there be an epidemic focussed on the Wirral which is one of the most wealthy areas in the U.K. where highest number of children are diagnosed and not in Stoke on Trent a very deprived area with the lowest occurence rate?
Why might that be as social deprivation is proven to increase the risk of behavioural difficulties by 200%(Sutton Trust Research October 2010)




Exponential growth of amphetamines / methylphenidate prescriptions in Holland.(1998-2008)
Is this pattern consistent across Europe?      
No, as Denmark has much lower levels of diagnosis ( a sixth) and uses more progressive approaches such as Social Pedagogy.This is an intensive 1:1 care/life-coaching approach based on well established psychological principles such as Attatchment Theory. It achieves 6 out of 10 children going to university as against 6 out of 1,000 in the U.K. for Looked After Children.
Denmark has a hugely lower rate of adult hospitalisation for mental health difficulties and incarcaration compared to the U.K. and the U.S. in particular.

CHOICES ?




Exponential growth of prison population in U.S. in the same  time period as the rapid growth in childhood prescribing of Amphetamines.
Is there possibly a statistical relationship with the exponential rise in prescribing of psychotropic drugs for children and the rapid increases in adult hospitalisation for Mental Health  Problems and incaceration rates?Is this due to the failure of the mass medication regime in the U.S.?
(The U.S. has 5% of the world population and yet has 20%plus  of the world's prison population. Some states are known as "Prison States," with prisons being the largest employers manufacturing military uniforms etc. at very competitive low rates of pay.    Clearly these policies are far from effective and should  be avoided in Europe.




Social trends suggest a possible relationship between prescription rates for children of amphetamines, adult mental health diagnosis rates and adult incarceration rates.
Should research be done into this to establish the nature of any inter-relationships?
The whole panel of the ' QI ' show were gobsmacked recently by Stephen Fry,the presenter, sharing these statistics and his view that prisoners being used as a source of cheap labour.

Does U.K. want to follow this regressive approach?

Might the proposed privatisation of our prisons be a step in the wrong direction where prisoners are used to generate profits for multim national corporations?



Could prescription of amphetamines lead to later addiction in adulthood to all stimulants? Several International  studies from California,Australia and the U.K. are pointing towards this conclusion

A seminal book for this generation.

THE ONLY CONCLUSION ONE CAN COME TO WHEN READING ALL THE LITERATURE IS THAT DRUGGING SO MANY CHILDREN IS PART OF A VERY PROFITABLE 'BUSINESS PLAN' DRIVEN BY THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY AND ITS 'CONVERTS' IN PSYCHIATRY.

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Capitalism / corporate business thrives on societal crises and international disasters manipulating even disasters for the profit of shareholders.Hence the term,'Disaster Capitalism.'

Is business a driver for presciption rates for drugs for children and cashing in on societal / parental concerns / trends?

Read Melanie Klein's,"The Shock Doctrine."a Pulitzer Prizewinnining journalist (NY Times) who exposes the truth behind the worrying and developing economic / academic discipline of 'Disaster Captalism.'




Drug companies "cherry pick" supportive studies, that support their claims for the efficacy off their products.

Is this scientifically acceptable?



Financial Inducements are a factor in long-term medication of Y.P. e.g. Disabled Living Allowance(DLA) This can sustain the child on long term medication and have life-long effects.




Parents are encouraged to give drugs by D.L.A. incentives.(£300 or £600 per month per child)

Is this a conflict of interest or seductive coercion? 



ALL STRATEGIES MUST AIM TO REDUCE THE STRESSORS GOING INTO THE CHILD'S 'STRESS BUCKET' IN ORDER TO HELP THE CHILD MAKE PROGRESS AND IMPROVE THEIR EMOTIONAL WELLBEING.





What meaning do we construe as a society by treating so many children in this way?



Families,often unwittingly are part of an experimental programme for their child that is not heavily regulated.
How should  they / we feel about this?



Social Pedagogy is a progressive socially democratic approach that respects young people and doesn't see them as 'commodities' or 'market opportunities' for sales of medication  and reduces reliance on drugs for social control by the state.



Family meetings are a very successful way of addressing issues with some children.

They are more likely to listen to ideas from some of the other family members rather than from their parents.








Education is a conversation between generations.

What conversation do we want to have with Young People?

What message do we want to send to the future about the way we have chosen to treat our children today?

Lets follow the northern Europeans with their academic discipline of 'Social pedagogy," which is based on sound child psychology such as the theory of Attachment and Emotional Resilience etc.

See post of that name.As per tree illustration above.

Contact: THEMPRA UK for more info.



METHYLPHENIDATE = 'AMPHETAMINE LIKE' = "SPEED." Not needed for Happy / Thriving Children!+ FIRST WATCH "CHANGING EDUCATIONAL PARADIGMS"

Why have they given me "Speed?" Look what it has done!

Why give anxious children "Speed?"(Against NICE Guidelines.)

The ADHD Controversy - Oz style.

What choices do we have as a society?U.S. Business Model or E.U. Social Model?

It doesn't matter the formula is the same!

Abuse of prescribed drugs.

Huge profits in legal or illegal amphetamines!

Is this a joke?

or our shared current reality? 

DAVE TRAXSON - Social Trends in the U.S. and the U.K.

Do we want this?

https://www.youtube.com/user/Humanagement2011 

for more alternatives to medication just click on hyperlink.

Choices as a society?The three strikes and you out rule in the U.S. clearly does not work giving long sentences to petty criminals and creating a captive workforce.

Exponential growth mirrors rise of psychotropic drugs for children!                                                                                       Also this incarcaration of citizens policy has  potential equal opportunities issues as the majority of prisoners are black (1 in 9 black  adults are in prison in U.S.) They are then forced to work to avoid solitary confinement at 25 cents per hour making huge amounts of military uniforms, paint, furniture and other products which gives them a competitive advantage over the low pay ecconomies in the far east.

Range of psychotropic drugs for children.

European cultures are built on principles of fair and respectful treatment of children.

The effect of expectations.

DAVE TRAXSON PSYCHOLOGIST ASKS,'WHAT ARE NORMAL OR ABNORMAL PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOUR FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN SOCIETY?' IS THIS JUST BOYS BEING BOYS? - SHOULD SOCIETY MEDICATE CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY BOYS AND ETHNIC GROUPS TO ACHIEVE SOCIAL CONTROL AND CONFORMITY?

BOYS SHOWING 'GAY ABANDON' AND HAVING GREAT FUN OR IS IT 'IMPULSIVE' BEHAVIOUR THE KEY DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR ADHD  AND FOR PRESCRIBING PSYCHOSTIMULANT MEDICATION TO CALM THEM DOWN.
LADDISH BEHAVIOUR OR MEDICATE? 
ARE WE MEDICATING PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOUR IN SOCIAL GROUPS OF YOUNG PEOPLE THAT UNTIL RECENTLY PARENTS, FRIENDS, SCHOOLS AND SOCIETY DEALT WITH CREATIVELY AND PROACTIVELY?

WHAT DOES SOCIETY WANT?

WE HAVE A CHOICE?


THERE IS A CONSENSUS AMONGST MANY ALLIED PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH CHILDREN THAT ADHD IS INDEED A SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED PHENOMENON WHICH VARIES GREATLY IN OCCURRENCE DEPENDING ON SOCIAL VARIABLES AND NORMS FOR CHILDHOOD IN THE COUNTRY, STATE, CULTURE,  COMMUNITY, OR EVEN EXTENDED FAMILY. SO IT IS UNLIKELY TO BE A UNIFORM MEDICAL CONDITION OCCURRING EVENLY ACROSS A SOCIETY. WIDE VARIATIONS IN PRESCRIPTION RATES ARE FURTHER PROOF OF THIS POSITION.


CLICK ON TITLE ABOVE OR LINK BELOW TO SEE CHANNEL 4 NEWS 'SPECIAL REPORT,'  JUNE 6TH 2011.

http://www.channel4.com/news/adhd-drugs-prescribed-to-under-6s-against-guidelines 



ALSO LISTEN TO BBC RADIO 4 WOMANS' HOUR - JUNE 17TH 2011 FOR A DEBATE ON DIAGNOSIS OF ADHD BETWEEN TWO EMINENT CHILD PSYCHIATRISTS.

JENNY MURRAY ASKS,"WHAT ARE PARENTS SUPPOSED TO THINK IF YOU TWO EMINENT CHILD PSYCHIATRISTS DISAGREE SO FUNDEMENTALLY ABOUT WHAT  ADHD IS?

click below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b011vhsj 



 

LET'S GIVE OUR CHILDREN A 'THUMBS UP' FROM SOCIETY FOR A CLEAN BILL OF MENTAL HEALTH.
LET'S PROTECT THEIR RIGHT TO A HEALTHY AND FUN CHILDHHOOD AND 

"STOP THE MEANINGLESS MASS MEDICATION FOR  MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS OF MINORS." 

"DODGY DIAGNOSIS IS DANGEROUS."

(DaveTraxson 2011)

"WE MADE MISTAKES WITH DSM4 WHICH HAVE CAUSED TERRIBLE DAMAGE TO CHILDREN SINCE."

(DR ALLAN FRANCES - 2009 -PSYCHIATRIST -LEAD EDITOR OF THE DSM4 PANEL WHO WROTE THE MANUAL.)

BEFORE: Headteachers and friends descriptions of children before psychostimulant medication was administered.

Do we as a society want to extinguish these characteristics in children or just in some children? Why? Is it fair?

DANGER - BLACK BOX WARNING IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN U.S. DUE TO  REPORTED SUDDEN DEATHS OF CHILDREN BY HEART FAILURE.

AFTER: Headteachers and friends descriptions of the same children  after medication with psychostimulants.

Is this an acceptable change in presenting behaviour for a caring society to allow to take place?

DRUGS ONLY WORK DUE TO THEIR LEVELS OF TOXICITY ON CELLS, ORGANS OR NEUROLOGICAL PATHWAYS. CAN WE TAKE RISKS WITH THIS PRACTICE WITH CHILDREN?

Jumping for joy or hopping mad?   Medication?

                                           

Youthful gay abandon or group impulsivity?   Medication? 

Vivacious or impulsive needing medication?

Joyful gambolling or reckless -                needing medication?            

Loves speed not "speed"(Amphetamines/methylphenidate) 

Are the above positive, desirable behaviours or undesirable, clinical conditions that need medicating.

 

What "meaning" does this child have about his life and how to solve lifes' problems?

Why do 'they' want me to take it?

I'm not naughty,I'm just me! Do they want to change my enthusiasm, energy and fun for life?

Is being creative, vibrant, energetic and a risk taker a bad thing? (Entrepeneurs and bankers don't think so!)

  Areas of brain that can be affected and damaged by methylphenidate or other psychostimulants (cocaine) when given to children.

What is an acceptable level of risk?

Mass medication of twenty first century young vulnerable children - is this wise?

The British Psychological Society lends it support to the call for a national review of the use of medication to treat children’s behavioural issues including temporary sleep problems, mild social anxiety and shyness.
 
Peter Kinderman, Chair of the Division of Clinical Psychology said: “We welcome the announcement from the government pledging an extra £400 million for the provision of psychological therapies – including the promise of better support for parents and children with behavioural problems. However, we are concerned that the overall cuts to the public sector will place all of mental health care – including care for children - at risk.
“We know BPS members are involved in excellent work with Child and Mental Health Service teams, but child mental health is an area that is grossly under resourced, resulting in too few children and young people being able to get timely access to the appropriate therapy. Within the BPS we are already working closely with our psychiatry colleagues to ensure better mental health across the board. If there is evidence of inappropriate use of drugs or medication then we’re sure that our psychiatry colleagues  would be equally concerned.

“Clearly, it is important to understand children’s behavioural and psychological problems fully, and to invest in proper, expert, therapeutic approaches. We would be very concerned if children were being prescribed medication as a quick fix rather than accessing the full assessments and psychological therapies which take may longer and cost more, but ultimately are likely to be better value in the long run.”
 
Figures released by the Department of Health show that in 2009 the number of prescriptions issued to 16-18 years olds to treat ADHD had risen by 51% in just two years.
Peter concluded: “Clearly, many children unfortunately have behavioural and emotional problems which of course demand appropriate care. 

THE PREVIEW OF THE DANGEROUSLY INCLUSIVE REVISED DSM5 WHICH WILL AIM TO MEDICALISE 25% OF YOUNG PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND A GROWING LIST OF SUBJECTIVE CATEGORISATIONS.

Many psychologists are very concerned at the use of psychiatric and medical diagnoses in cases such as this – not only because of doubts about the validity of many of the diagnostic approaches, but also because of the possible adverse effects of the medication. Children for whom the diagnosis of ADHD is being considered should receive full multidisciplinary assessments, the option of receiving psychological and behavioural therapies, and their parents or carers should be offered parent-training and education programmes.  Drugs should be considered as an option but this should be part of an overall therapy programme. In the case of problems such as temporary sleep problems, mild social anxiety and shyness, I fail to see how medicalising these problems and contemplating the use of drugs is justified. These may indeed be problems, but they are problems that clearly deserve a more psychological response”.

The call for a national review is also supported by the Society’s Division of Educational and Child Psychology.
PR: 1848 8 February 2011 



Association of Educational Psychologists: Support for a national review of the use of psychotropic drugs for school aged children in the UK

  
The Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP) considers that a national review into the use of psychotropic drugs, such as Ritalin, on school aged children in the UK is urgently needed.

This is in agreement with the views publicly expressed by individual educational psychologists and the British Psychological Society (BPS).

The AEP has significant concerns that the neurological impact of psychotropic drugs on the developing brains of children has not been fully researched. The potential damage that such drugs could cause needs further investigation.

The AEP is also concerned about child treatment with psychotropics ahead of the introduction of new diagnostic criteria, DSM5, in 2013.  These criteria will result in more inclusive definitions of mental health, and could consequently lead to more young people being referred for treatment with these medications

Therefore, prior to the introduction of DSM5, the AEP calls on the Government to urgently establish a national review into the standard intervention practices for children and young people considered to have issues of mental health – and further calls for this review to consider seriously the potential damage caused by psychotropics when contrasted with other available therapies.