Medication for Kids - Essay Example

MEDICATING KIDS It is with no doubt that the number of drugs our kids has been on a rising trend from time immemorial. The number of kids aged between 6-17 has increased dramatically from 2011-2012 Report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that thousands of children may be receiving psychostimulant medicines. Up-to-date estimates from the NCH statistics also show that there have been exponential growths of kids’ medication from 1988- 1994 with behavioral difficulties (NIH). The trend is no new news for majority of us. The use of such drugs is sanctioned by the parents themselves. Almost all the cases are with the consent of the parents and the prescription of qualified personnel. Most cases of over-medicating kids arise due to cases of bipolar disorders and depression. More than a million kids in the USA are on antipsychotic medication. People argue that the medication help the kids in lifting their bad moods and stabilizing depressive moments for the kid. The growth of drug use can be attributed to the availability of such medicines and the increased research that support the trend on efficacy grounds. Most schools have signs warning against drug use. However, their school sanatoriums are full of antidepressants for their students. The pressure that is applied on the kids by the schools and parents themselves does not help the situation in any way. Most kids are not able to cope up with the stress and the overall effect of this is on their social lives. In a bid to help them “fit in”, they are referred to psychiatrists who prescribe more and more dugs for them. The situation then becomes a cycle; new drugs for the same old problem. Also another side effect is the kids’ body does not absorb the drugs as the adult body would do and this can have a negative effect on the kids body. To further emphasize on the issue of over-medication, parents have greatly relied on medicines to tackle behavioral and psyche issues where simple activities would do, simple bruises and inflammation are treated with anti-inflammations medicines such as ibuprofen, signs of discomfort in children are highly not tolerated by parents and they resort to self- prescribing over the counter analgesics such as aspirin and Paracetamol (in fact almost every home has these medicines ready on the cupboard for emergency) even when research has clearly shown that their liver are not fully developed to metabolize the drug. Skin conditions, such as heat rashes, ringworms and mild cases of psoriasis which are a common phenomenon in kids are also over-medicated for with medicated topical creams that contain betamethasone, sulphur or other sensitive ingredients which stand a chance of degrading the epithelial layer of the skin. What are important in handling health challenges in kids is a responsible diagnosis of their ailments and the right dosage of medicines, in many cases, medicines are not required but the sheer greed for money from both the pharmaceutical firms and health institutions have insisted on the use of certain medicines as health supplements. Even colic, which is a normal condition in infants and probably wanes as the infant grows is medicated for. Due to over-medication, the immune system gets clogged and heavily becomes dependent on medicines every now and then, the result therefore is a returning customer who further promotes the pharmaceutical industry even as he/she greatly endangers his/her life. Notwithstanding the side-effects that the same drugs have on our children, we emphasize on giving them a normal life. We are not a 100% sure if the treatment that we offer our children is safe for them, especially toddlers. The simple and most common side effects are sleep disturbances and mood disorders. It is funny that in the same way that we are quick to medicate them for some disorders, we totally neglect how the will feel later afterwards. Some of the disorders we commonly medicate are autism which is commonly suffered by kids in our country. Kids diagnosed with aggressive disorders are given antipsychotic medications which are very strong for their body. Also the center for disease and control has raised an alarm for children using antidepressants. The classroom changes can explain a lot regarding the rising use of pediatric prescriptions. The classroom settings, like an overcrowded one, make the teachers to be less tolerant of their students who find it uncomfortable in sitting still with their classmates. The issue leads to the recommendation of medication to make such kids fit into the classroom with others. Moreover, advertising by pharmaceutical companies has worsened the situation. The adverts tend to influence the parents in their choices over their kids. Furthermore, the advertisements tend to de-stigmatize the whole concept of medication ids with antidepressants. Parents have a wider source of knowledge compared to in the 1990s; hence, they are more prone to incline to medication as a solution to their parenting problems. With the revolution in the marketing sector of pharmaceutical firms, we can be sure that the situation is not going to be better any time soon. Conclusion I advocate for the use of other options that do not involve tablets, syrups or injections, most children do not need medication unless they are suffering from serious ailments, like diabetes 1. Before a parent should give his/her kid drugs, she/he needs to figure out what type of nutrition the kid is missing or what food sensitivity their child has and feed them accordingly. There is a great chance of a behavioral change from the change of diet. Some foods, like fish oils, can be used as supplements rather than the use of processed medication. Other solutions should be used instead of using medications. Guardians should use therapies and also proper medication. For example if a child is facing self-esteem problems antidepressants should not be used on him/her but with proper guidance and counseling the kid can be back on the right track. It can also be that all the kid needed was the change attitude. In as much this will take time it will be good for the kid and the parent in the long run. Some of the problems children face can also be solved by the change of diet and environment friendly areas. Parents should also be very careful before administering pain killers to their kids, a careful assessment should be done, often; minor injuries such as scratches will need placebos rather than liver endangering medicines. Reference NIH.gov . http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/director/2014/are-children-overmedicated.shtml. 2014. 03 November 2014 . Read More