Data Available on the Trends in the Prescription of Drugs for Children Having Behavioral Disorders - Essay Example

The trends in prescription of drugs for behavioral problems in children have been of research for researchers across the globe. There are debates which state that children are being over prescribed for cases of behavioral disorders. These arguments suggests that this trend of over prescription would in longer terms, affect the psychological stability of the society. However, there are counter arguments to this suggesting that the level of drugs being prescribed to children are optimal in terms of managing the psychological wellness of children at large. The national and international standards on drug administration and prescription are referred to as benchmarks by researchers arguing for both points. However, it has been reported that there is a large gap in the information available on the safety and efficiency of drugs used in childhood. Several reasons are being attributed to this gap. It has been argued that the non participation of children in clinical trial owing to ethical, financial and resource related reasons. Thus there has to be specific measures to ensure information for the optimal prescription of medicines for children with behavioral disorders. The objective of this essay is to analyze the data available on the trends in the prescription of drugs for children having behavioral disorders. Over prescription of drugs There is enough data available to prove that there has been a marked increase in the prescription and administration of drugs to children. Specific researches focusing on children with behavioral disorders also highlight similar trends. (Zito et al., 2003) has concluded that the rate of psychotropic prescription in children have increased three times as compared with the rates of pre-nineties. A notable fact regarding this study is that it covered a very large sample size including almost a million children. The official records on drug prescription states that in the year 2002, alone 11 million prescriptions for antidepressants were issued for children less than 18 years of age. This notes an increase of 49% as compared with the rates of 1998 (Rigoni, 2004). Similarly, with the case of spending on psychological medicines, there has been remarkable increase proportional to the increase in the increase in prescriptions. Connecting these two data, it can be assumed that most of the medicines which are prescribed are being administrated in children. The spending on Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is reported to have increased by 183% in between the time span of three years from 2000 to 2003. (Medco Health Solutions,Inc., 2004). Another very interesting data available on children’s drug prescription show that the expenditure share of medications for behavioral problems were far more than any other category of children’s medicine (Medco Health Solutions,Inc., 2004).. However, it must also be noted here that the cost of psychotropic drugs are relatively higher than other category of child medicines resultantly contributing to the overall expenditure on medicines for behavioral issues. Medco Health Solutions,Inc. (2004) compiled data from 300000 children to conclude that the use of attention deficit drugs in children below 5 years of age tripled. Another study found that the use of antidepressants in children below 6 years to have increased by 580%. There are arguments in the line that many of the prescriptions of the US psychiatrists do not compile with the legislations of US Food and Drug Administration. ADHD has been stated by experts as not treatable by antipsychotics. However, this finding contradicts the increase of drug prescription involving antipsychotic drugs. It is also argued that with no regard to the effectiveness of these medicines on managing the disorder for they are prescribed, they are proved for causing serious side effects including obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and muscular issues. There have been reported cases of deaths due to the continued use of these medicines. Interventions like parent management training which would be more effective in the management of behavior issues are reportedly overlooked and unwanted antipsychotic drug prescriptions are made. The attitude of the parents and the health care professionals for an easy cure are at blame for opting for medicines in place of psychological interventions. It has been argued that though the psychological interventions would involve more time and money, it would be more sustainable. Another major issue with early drug use is that the child will have to depend on antipsychotic drugs for a much extended period. Another reason which is attributed on preference of drugs over management practices is the role of insurance companies. It is often complained that insurance reimbursements can be easily claimed for drug therapies, whereas for psychological interventions and therapeutic approaches, the reimbursements are hard to me made. This prompts both the doctors and the parents to opt for drugs over therapy. The marketing measures by pharmaceuticals are also reported to have a large influence over the medical system and the parents. It has been estimated that there has been acute increase in the marketing expenses for these drugs. Going by the basic marketing theory, large marketing measures would in turn result in increased sale. This is contributing to the debate over the increasing prescription of drugs for behavioral problems in children. In between the years 1996 and 2005, the drug industry has increased their marketing cost by three times (Smith, 2012). It must be noted here that this included a five time increase in the direct consumer advertisements. Referring to this, it has been argued that the consumer base is being heavily influenced by the pharmaceutical companies. The role of the direct consumer advertisements becomes evident in the case of United States where demand was as double as Canada, where direct advertising to the consumer is prohibited. It has also been reported that the side effects of these medicines are not mentioned in the advertisements resulting in increased purchases. Why the increase in prescription is justified The major point that weakens the argument on the over prescription of medicines for behavioral issues in children is that many of the research which concludes on this information has included serious methodological limitations. This includes insufficient sample size, non-blinded approach of the research and other clinical limitations. Thus it is being argued that the results of these studies are biased against the prescription of drugs. The increase in the prescription of these drugs is attributed to the changing social scenario as well. There have been sociological changes in the Western society which has affected the transition phases of growth for a child. There increasing crises in the families including conflicts, divorces, single parent homes. Other influences of a largely liberalized market including consumerism, materialism and decreased social life are largely affecting the psychological wellbeing of children in the western society. Thus further leads to issues like depression, aggression and anxiety. Over anticipated expectations are built by children and the society which puts a lot of pressure on them. This in general, behavioral issues are increasing occurring amongst children. The access to psychological interventions has also increased. The awareness among parents that medical help has to be sought in these cases also has increased. Moreover the nuclear and the independent nature of the families leave no scope for parental interventions to patiently work with children. It is being argued that these factors would automatically increase the cases being referred to a doctor or a psychological practitioner. This would automatically mean that there will be more prescriptions of drugs for behavioral disorders. In general, a state of mind is being increasingly seen as a biochemical imbalance by the society. This attitude of the society naturally excepts interventions which are chemical in nature. Thus it is argued that it is the changing nature of the society and its attitude which forces the increased prescriptions of drugs. In other words the increase in the rate of prescriptions is a response to a requirement of a changing society. The hypothesis on the commercial aspects behind the prescriptions as argued by the researches cited earlier in this paper is being nullified with this point. The data on the increased spending on prescribed medicines also arguably attribute to the abuse of these medicines. It is being increasingly reported that abuse of antidepressants and other psychiatric medicine in on an increase. Hamilton (2009) reports that medicines prescribed for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is used most for drug abuse. It must be noted here the quantum of medicine prescribed for this cause accounts to a major chunk of the total prescribed medicines for behavioral disorders. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health done in 2005 revealed that close to 3% of the total population of the age 12 years or older used prescribed medicines were doing drug abuse. Interestingly, 1.1 million out of the studied population used stimulants which are often prescribed for children’s behavioral disorders. It also has been found in the simultaneous surveys that these data kept increasing. This large spending for the cause of drug abuse is also accounted under the spending on prescribed drugs. This point to an extent justifies that the data on seriousness of the issue as reflected by arguments in favour of the over prescription of drugs for behavioral disorders has to be reanalyzed categorically. Out of the emergency cases which were reported on the effects of use of stimulants prescribed for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, 48% involved non medical use of these drugs. It must be assumed here that the intake of medicine would have been extensive in terms of frequency and quantity. Conclusion The data on the prescription of drugs for behavioral disorders in children suggests a huge increase in the prescription and the spending on these medicines. Pointing out the commercial interests of these prescriptions and the side effects of these medicines, it is being argued that this trend in prescription is alarming. There are several studies which have come up with data supporting this trend. However, a counter argument to this is that the indications of these data are not directly pointing at over prescription of these medicines. Primarily, the methodologies of most of the researches concluding the alarming rates of prescription are not standard in terms of their scientific validity. Moreover, the increase in prescriptions of these medicines is pointed out as an indication of an emerging social scenario but not a mere increase in the rate of prescriptions. The social context is disturbing that it creates more children with behavioral disorders. Non medical uses of these medicines are also argued to contribute to the spending on these medicines. As clearly cited in this paper, arguments trying to prove that medicines for behavioral disorders are being over prescribed are equally prevalent as studies stating that in reality these medicines are not being overprescribed. However, it is very important that policy interventions be may be to standardize the prescription of specific medicines for children’s behavioral disorders. It is indeed important that a centralized approach be taken in analyzing the prevalent trends and policies be formulated accordingly. Read More