Are you Analyzing the Implications of Governing Officials?

I do not normally post my papers from school, but felt this was one worth sharing.  It was rather amazing the references I used from my homework assignment were the posts I left on Facebook earlier today.  What are the chances of getting to use those references?  It was puzzling that my entire assignment that I had no knowledge of would be on the very postings I left today, so with that said I felt it would be good to share the summaries of the paper.

                                                          Analyzing Implications

First Summary

From my understanding, according to Terry Eastland, (Jan 2011) he leads us to believe that Republicans are responding to unlimited government, and that the Tea Party are guarding that situation ready to address and push it, if it is ignored.  This is of course, what the Republicans wanted to be noted for in the media, but I am not sure after finding other sources that may express otherwise. There is a great deal  of concern about the amount of control from both parties.  Both are trying to pass through the senate, a bill this week that would leave citizens without trial and could be arrested by the right of the government, according to what they establish as being deemed right or wrong.  This bill that both Republicans and Democrat Senators are trying to pass will be addressed this week. According to the ACLU (Nov 2011) the senate is preparing for a vote by this Monday or Tuesday that should concern every American!  “This bill will direct the military resources not at an enemy shooting at our military in a war zone, but at American Citizens and other civilians far from the battlefield.-even people in the United States itself”. (pg.1)  This bill is being supported by both parties according to the article by the ACLU, this is a part of the National Defense Authorization Act bill, and this bill was drafted in secret by Sens. Carl Levin (D-Mich) and John McCain (R-Ariz)and passed in a closed door committee meeting.  Concluding the article by the ACLU, one republican senator explained “the law will basically say in law for the first time that our homeland is part of the battlefield” and that people can be prosecuted without charge or trial.  What about your rights to a fair trial to be charged and tried?  I think they must have totally ignored the constitution on this one. I am sure there will be no military looking in their direction or pointing a weapon at them, and I hope this bill will not be passed, because it could very well change life as we know it.

Second Summary

According to the article in Scientific American (2005)raising the concern of human inventory control there is a great deal of discretion presented by how this new technology can be used.  The value of this, of course, depends upon how it is used.  According to an article presented by MSN (2004) the FDA approves the computer chip for humans.  I the past few years I have seen the differences between parties and many supporters blaming each party, however, there are implications of both sides that have supported these devices.  The MSN article stated that in 2004, The US Department of Health and Human Services paid 139 million dollars in grants to help bring about President Bush’s push for electronic health records for most Americans with a decade.  We are now in the year of 2011.  This debate was noticed widely on Social Networking sites and great controversy I have read personally on postings relating to these issues and a great deal of blame was on the Health reform and the government taking control over healthcare and the privacy issues surrounding chips that could also impose upon the privacy of others.  While one could say it would be good to keep up with medical records, another great concern would be more interference of the control of the government into the private lives of law abiding citizens.  I think the bad clearly outweighs the good.  Such technology can be trumped up to be an asset to people, but you have to look at the implications from the other side of the spectrum, which in my opinion would be a great loss of privacy and an injustice for the American people.  In the first summary and this one as well, I would eagerly address that we have entirely too much governmental control, and that many details in the constitution are danced around or ultimately changed, overlooked or ignored.  For whatever rights hold to the public, therefore, should deem enforceable and accountable to the governmental authorities as well.

References:

American Civil Liberties Union (Nov 2011) Senators demand the military lock up American citizens in a

“Battlefield” they define as being right outside your window.

http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/senators-demand-military-lock-american-citizen

Eastland, Terry (Jan 2011) The Weekly Standard: We the People

            http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.edmc.edu/docprintview/846785734

Ebsco Publishing (May 2005) Human Inventory Control. Scientific American. P. 8

            http://web.ebscohost.com.libproxy.edmc.edu/ehost/delivery?sid=f2feb908-ce0c-4af6-a6c

Msnbc News (Oct 2004) FDA approves computer chip for humans.

            http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6237364/ns/health_care/t/fda-approves-computer-chips

                       

Are genetically modified foods creating an impact on the modern world?

This blog posting will be examining the pros and cons of genetically modified foods, and the
concerns that it is imposing upon the modern world.


     I hope to provide information on the pros and cons, and provide a clearer understanding of genetically modified foods, while bringing awareness of the information that every consumer should understand, so they can make wiser choices about their health, and possible changes for their future.  Weighing the pros and cons of genetically modified foods should be a concern so people can have a clearer understanding of what we are imposing through the use of Genetically Modified Foods around the world.

      GM Food and feed have been linked to death and sickness.   According to Jeffery M. Smith (July 2009) investigations were conducted in Haryana, India and the results found the buffalos that ate GM cottonseed had problems such as early deliveries, abortions, sterile, and prolapse of the uteruses.  There were a large number of calves that died.  In the United States, many farmers reported that thousands of pigs were becoming sterile because of the GM corn they were ingesting.  Other pigs gave birth to only empty bags of water.  Cows and bulls have also become sterile when they were fed the exact same corn.

      According to Renata Brillinger (September 2006) There was serious concern in 1989
during an outbreak of a new disease contracted by over 5000 people that was traced back
to a batch of L-tryptophan food supplement produced with GM bacteria.  Even though it
contained 0.1 per cent of toxic compound, 37 people died, and 1,500 were left permantly
disabled.  The American Center of Disease Control stopped counting after 1991.  We have no way to explain when the there are no food labels that identify GMO’s.  It proposes the thoughts that we are no longer in control of the very food we eat for our survival.  We can’t detect whether we are ingesting GMO’s verses organic.

Smith, further concluded that studies were applied to humans and some of the participants had Roundup Ready gut bacteria.  There was only one study that was  published on GMO’s.  Scientists found bacteria growing in a waste dump area and the organism had a special gene that was able to thrive and not die.  The scientists came to the conclusion that it would be added to the food supply.  It was given the name Round Up Ready.  There were humans that ate the GM soybeans and the DNA was transferred into their intestinal tracts and the bacteria continued to function.  There is a concern that if you continue to manufacture Bt-toxins that is could turn the intestinal tract into a pesticide factory.  Canada is conducting studies on this subject and are showing results but there is nothing that has been published so far on this study to my acknowledgment, as they are still carrying out the study to date.  I would be interesting to see the reports and the impact it could have on Genetically Modified Foods.

     According to Smith (2009) If the living pesticide factory is conclusive we have to
question the thought of GMO’s.  If they are able to bust the intestinal tract of insects and
destroy them, further questions are considered as to whether the corporations that
manufacture GMO’s have ignored the peer reviewed published evidence proving that Bt
toxins bind with mice and monkeys in the intestinal tract.  They have denied the claim of
being harmful to mammals, even though the tests are proving something far different. 

      In the conclusion of (Smith’s) studies and statements, he further addressed that if the Bt toxins were spreading the bacteria inside the digestive tract of North Americans, we will see the increase of gastro intestinal problems, autoimmune diseases, food allergies, and possible child hood learning disorders.  Smith stated since 1996, when Bt crops were introduced into the market that Physicians have stated they are seeing increases in these dilemmas.  We need more scientific research on the safety of GMO’s and the Bt toxins in particular.

     According to Jaan Suurkula (May 1998) There is also clear concern of the hazard of
viruses from GMO’s.  The most widely common virus that is used in Genetic engineering is
the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus.   Research and studies has confirmed the risks of combination
with unrelated viruses is now greater than previously understood.  The research has proven 
that CAMV has a hotspot recombination, which makes it susceptible to break up DNA chains
and join them together.  Angela Ryan a modular biologist and molecular biologist and also
Joseph Cummins, geneticist, have published a paper warning for the use of CAMV in crops.
This gene virus can reactivate dormant viruses, or create new ones in all species that it is
transferred to.  Cancer is also a potential consequence.  (Suurkula), further concluded that
practically all genetically engineered crops contain genetic material from viruses created in
this way may be more infectious, and may cause a greater number of alarming diseases,
and may have the tendency to cross species borders.

 Around the world, there are many concerns not only for our health, but also the insects that needs to thrive for our survival as well.  According to Andrew Barron (Jul/August 2011), he brings the question about what may be killing the bees.  They to are affected new forms of pesticides, genetically modified crops (GMO’S) expressing toxins, parasitic mites, fungal diseases, intensive agriculture.   To a greater and lesser degree, all of these things are pushing the onset to the decline of the honey bee. Barron also stated:  “Pesticide exposure or insufficient diets from floral monocultures may weaken bees’ immune systems.  As the global trade in bee stocks has spread major bee pest and disease are almost everywhere in the world, it is extremely hard for immune-compromised bees to survive”.  We have also seen a huge concerning decline in the monarch butterflies that may be dying off because of genetically modified foods according to Deborah B. Whitman (April 2000)

      Genes are now being patented ruling against the natural laws of nature.  Because of the
patent laws, many farmers are being sued by major corporations that have patented these
seeds.  There is nothing to stop the wind from blowing the crop onto their properties ,and
then the larger corporations suing them and seizing their crops along with huge fines.  It
has destroyed the farming the way we once knew it before.  In an article found on the web
site  www.banGMfood.org  10 Reasons why we don’t need GM foods there was some
interesting information about the patent on the seeds.  There is evidence that these GM
companies cannot be trusted.  They have a history of toxic contamination and also the
deception of the public.  The patents of the larger corporations monopolizes the world food
supply.  They have harassed farmers and intimidated them for the crime of patented seed
or stealing patented genes, even if those genes got into the farmers’ fields through
accidental contamination or insects.

      According to an article written by E. Ann Clark Ph.D (Fall 2001)  Percy Schemeiser was a
farmer that was sued by Monsanto for growing canola that had been contaminated with the
Round up Ready gene.  He was found guilty for having Monasanto genetics on his land.  He
wasn’t found guilty of brownbagging or obtaining the seed fraudulently.  All of those
allegations were dropped due to lack of evidence.  The farmer was in his 70’s and practically
destroyed his family financially all because some of this seed fell or blew onto his land and
grew there.  This is a sad account of what many farmers have had to face today.  As Clark
concluded, “GM technology will necessarily make food more expensive-and particularly-but
not solely-for those who have chosen not to grow GM crops”.

      There are many objections and also controversies over the importance of GMO’s and I have researched both pros and cons.   According to Deborah Whitman (April 2000) “the world population growth is over 6 billion and is predicted to double in the next 50 years.  Ensuring an adequate food supply for this booming population is going to be a major challenge in the years to come”.

     ( Witman) concluded that, GMO’S are pest resistant because they are a pesticide.  Crop losses from insect pests can result in total financial loss for farmers and starvation in developing countries.  GMO’s are herbicidal tolerant.  For many crops it can be a very expensive process to destroy weeds and time consuming and the herbicide doesn’t harm the crop.  Monsanto created an herbicide product Roundup.  Farmers can grow soybeans and it only requires one application of weed killer instead of repeated herbicides.  There are many viruses that cause diseases of plants and plant biologists are working to create plants with resistance to these diseases.  These GMO’s are also cold resistant.  They implanted an anti freeze gene into plants like tobacco and potatoes.  With these genes the plants can tolerate colder conditions.  The GMO’s are more tolerate to drought conditions as well.  We also have countries that are malnourished.  They were creating GMO’s to have more nutrients than the commodities of other countries where they had no access to nutrients apart from there market of trade. There are disadvantages that I have found in the conclusions of my research that far out weigh the advantages.  We do not understand the magnitude of the GMO’s or what we will be seeing down the road.  Through all of the discoveries and knowledge collected, it is very plain that until more scientific research and testing occurs with these GMO crops, it has occurred to me that the public is very much like a ginny pig and not really having a choice over what they select in their diet.  I believe it will take a great deal of awareness and education in the public stream before changes will come over these problems. 

     GMO’s are affecting our world in every way, with the insects that we need for the environment and also the healthy state of our bodies and being able to have the freedom to choose what you are eating from the grocery markets.  Labels should be stated to the GMO products and that gives the consumer the option to choose what they decide to put into their bodies.  Without the labeling it could take years to be able to track or know for certain the outcome that we will all be facing.   I truly believe nature was a gift unto us and to enjoy the organic things from the earth and I feel we may be crossing boundaries that our children’s children will have to pay and endure.  I hope maybe something can be done before we no longer understand the nature of anything organic or created by the hands of God.

REFERENCES:

Barron, A. (July, 2011) Death in the Hive. Australasian Science Vol. 32, I-6 p. 4

Bergeron, B.; Chan, P. (2004) Biotech Industry: A Global Economic and Financing Overview   

     p.104, 239

Clark, A.E. (May, 2011) The Implications of the Percy Schmeiser Decision.

Crane, J. (June, 2011) World in Motion: The Globalization of the Environment Reader-

     Journal of World History, Vol.22, I-2, pgs 426-429

Schubert, D. (July, 2002) The Risks of GM Food.

                                                                                                                       
Smith, J.M., Seeds of Deception-www.seedsofdeception.com/Public/Home/index.cfm

Smith, J.M., Everything you have to know about dangerous genetically modified foods.

     Spilling the Beans Newsletter

Suurkula, J. MD The Virus Hazard http://www.saynotogmos.com/virus_hazard.htm

(Genetically modified food and health- a cause for concern? Irish Doctors Environmental

     Association ( IDEA)

http://www.ideaireland.org/gmfoodshealth.htm

Whitman, D. (April 2000) CSA Discovery Guides; Genetically Modified foods: Harmful or

     helpful? Pages 1-12

Are you being your child's parent or best buddy?

Teenagers are difficult no doubt.  They are going through one of the most critical periods of there lives.  They aren't little children, nor can they have a clear judgement about there lives and there decisions always.    I have learned many things about the feelings of wanting to have what you think you want.  Sometimes for an adolescent this is not always sound judgement.  When I was 13 life at home was very dis functional and I wanted to always be somewhere else.  My friends were an escape and they had a great influence on many things that I did.  Because of the confusion at home very often I would ask to go somewhere and more times than not It was agreeable.  In other words, because of the confusion at home, thoughts weren't focused on what I was doing when I left home.  Not to say that my parents didn't love me, but very often when we are dealing with our own problems at home we loose focus, because of the stress in our own lives.

Should we be our children's best friends?  I think not.  Many kids today are watching everything we do.  Whether we are smoking, drinking or not dealing with our problems.  They know every detail.  We model so many things in there lives.  Children project what they learn into there own lives.  I remember wanting to be away from home because of alcoholism or fighting many times at home.  I wanted to be any place but home.  I babysit my brothers and sisters and sometimes even felt as though they were my own kids.  I was the oldest out of 7  and had a great deal of responsibility because so often there was so much dysfunction going on there was a great deal of distractions of what we were doing at kids.  We could wonder off for miles and there was never a problem with that because we could do what we wanted and as long as we were home before bedtime It was all good.

At 13 I left to go and live with my Dad and he was going through a divorce at the time and resowing some of his oats and was very liberal in what he would allow me to do.  I of course had been sneaking around for a year before with cigarettes and I was caught smoking.  I was amazed at how this seemed like it was really know big deal to him.  He started buying me cigarettes and I felt very uncomfortable about it, but I pursued this because I was very young and didn't have a clue about judgements and how they could damage my life.  It didn't seem to worry my parents at the time.  Through this process, drinking was added and also I was allowed to drink.  This was a critical time and it was so easy to do rebellious things or daring things because it was easily available.  I moved in with my dad at the time because of the fighting at home which seemed unbearable at times.  I was however not allowed to smoke or drink at home, it was a lack of supervision and not a great deal of focus on me because my mother was greatly distracted by her own problems.

I stayed with my dad and I thought he was the greatest at this time because he would let me do these things.  I thought this was loving by allowing me to have my way.  I can remember being dropped off at the corner hang out by my Father and he never questioned me or worried that my life could be in danger.  I wasn't mature enough at the time to care because teenagers just wish to have there way and can't discern these things for themselves.  Distant from my mother for several years I moved to Virginia with my Father without consent from my mother.  My mom later discovered I was out of state and she went into a mode of panic.  At this time I felt a huge emptiness and there was no God to direct my paths or nurturing from these harmful things that were happening.

My mother was insist ant that I come home.  She sent for me a plane ticket and I flew back to my mother when I was 15 years old.  I will never forget the feeling of seeing her run to me as I got off the plane.  She grabbed me up and hugged me tighter than I ever remembered before.  It was one of the best feelings that I can remember between us.  I felt she truly cared.  She had found out about the marijuana and was very concerned that I had became addicted on drugs.  That was not the case but I had certainly lost a great deal of innocence of what I had become with open doors that allowed me to walk through them with little resistance.

     At 16 barely shy of 17 I became an unwed mother.  I had one boy friend and that was one from high school.  Again I was allowed to date at an early age and very little restrictions placed upon me besides a 12 o'clock curfew.  I was following suit in some of the other girls around me that had steady boyfriends.  I was totally and literally as lost as a goose.  My oldest daughter Erica descended into the world and an entire new experience came about.  Even in the midst of hardship and being a young mother I knew I would do all I could to protect her.  Thinking in the mind of a 17 year old.  Still very immature but the best of intentions.

My point to this all is when my daughter came into her preteens, I knew I didn't want to be her best friend.  I wanted to do what was best and protect her from the drug culture and would not allow her to drink in my presence and would teach her things about God that I had learned over the years.  She went through her trials as well and rebellions.  She to ran to places maybe she could be further acquainted with getting her way.  It may have seemed like I was a prude, but did not want these things to happen to her life.  My daughter is 29 now and she has children too.  She told me recently in a conversation along with another teenage girl going through some problems her self.  Your mother can't be your best friend growing up.  I never knew why my mom wouldn't allow me to do certain things in my teenage years and you never really appreciate that type of care until you see the eyes of your own child.  It is not important to be your child's best friend or to allow your vices to fall upon them.

There is a scripture that always brings me back to a sobering thought.  Train up a child and when he is old he will not depart from it.  Reading this if you look closely it says when he is old.  God knows the young have rebellious hearts.  These are the reasons he blessed children with parents to guide and steer them in the right directions.  We didn't always go to Church but I did attempt to teach them the rules of walking a line of correction and consequences to bad decisions and cared enough to discipline and correct them when they made poor decisions.  So many parents are dealing with these issues today, and we do not do our children justice when we put them in vulnerable positions and they watch our every moves and how we live our lives.  They still look to us when they are grown and examine our true selves to what we teach to them.  If it is hypocritical, when they see you doing these same things, they will bring it to your remembrance.  Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is older he will not depart from it.  Your teenager is not going to understand your rules but they definitely understand whether you are allowing them to be put in dangerous situations.  They will reflect back and one day question why you allowed them to go through those doors.

We must never give them all of there desires.  They are learning and want to have there way about it all.  They can not discern having safe judgements without our guidance or concern.  Your kids may not like you for it but they will love and appreciate you much in every way in the end.  Care enough to tell them no.  Care enough to check on them.  Don not let them wonder off in a place that is very unknowing and unsafe for them.  Communicate but do not compromise there lives for the sake of pleasing them apart from your better judgement.  God bless, a lesson well learned from experience.

The Increasing Reliance of Mental Health Professionals On Drug Therapy Has Dangerous Consequences for Children

This was α simplier  Time .  Memory of  My Dad , R Nelson

Prescription drug abuse is growing increasingly popular. The growing trend is gradually

getting worse, and can include grave implications, such as coma and death. According to Dr. John Goathe, the director of the Burlingame Center for Psychiatric Research in Connecticut noted that the office visits for children being prescribed anti-psychotic drugs had increased more than 600% in the years of 1993-2002 (Szalavitz, M.,May 2009,Time Magazine). Even preschoolers are being exposed to anti-psychotic drugs. Children from the ages of 2- 4 have experienced a rapid growth rate by three times the amount of time over a 5 year span of time. (Null, G., the Drugging of our Children). The evidence will support the claim from professionals in the field of health. The intention of the argument is to bring awareness of the impending dangers our society is being presented with.

     
     There is a great fear of compromise with the children being medicated, while their brains

have not fully developed. According to (Null) In 1986, researcher found brain shrinkage in 50 percent of adults that had been treated with stimulants for hyperactivity since childhood.
Doctors are aware that high doses of stimulants can cause brain damage, but no one has
Questioned the concern that chronic low doses could also create brain damage in the cases of children that are being treated for ADHD. We are becoming a medicated society, and while I agree the severe cases do have a cause of medication, we are becoming increasingly dependent upon drugs, and we don't know the underlying implications of what will be the outcome of the side effects.

     The television advertisements are growing more in number marketing more new drugs that are relative to depression and emotional disorders. While listening to each commercial at the end you will be given a long list of side effects, and I think we are growing desensitized to the harm of the long term effects. Very often the side effects of the drugs can produce greater harm than good of the medication. The pharmaceutical companies are making an enormous amount of profit for a dangerous price at the expense of quality of life. (Null, Gary, The Drugging of our Children)noted “Ritalin’s side effects has a more potent effect on the brain than cocaine and we are supposed to be a country that eschews the use of mind altering substances, certainly for children”. There have been lawsuits filed against many unsafe medications and the Pharmaceuticals companies settled out of court. It was the highest lawsuit filed in US History. (Szalavitz,M.) Concluded in this case there were also huge criminal fines that were charged to some of the pharmaceutical companies for illegally marketing antipsychotic drugs. There were pay outs that were well over 5 billion dollars. There is a huge mark up on these medications and the production of new disorders continues to rise along with new medications to treat them with.

     
     Through the research that I have compiled it seems relevant that the Big Phara companies may be more concerned for their profits than human life. The doctors are being put in a position of offering drugs over behavioral therapy because the insurance companies will not pay for talk therapy. The drugs that are administered do not prove to be any more effective than talk therapy. It is much quicker and more economical for health professionals to administer these drugs because time is money, and the insurance companies are balking at talk therapy. Fortunately the talk therapy has no harmful side effects, verses psychotic drugs depressants. According to (Gardiner, Harris March, 2011, New York Times), recent research from studies have concluded that talk therapy is as effective, if not noted, for better results treating depression. There is a growing problem because psychiatrist’s can earn more money in three 15 minute appointments at 150.00 compared to 90 dollars for a 45 minute counseling session. Insurance company’s policies discourage talk therapies because of their reimbursement rates. I believe this has to do with profit over quality care of patients. Of course if you are wealthy, this will not affect you because cash is not a problem. One young doctor by the name of Matthew Levin stated that he was concerned of the rising possibilities of putting his earnings against the ethics of his patients care. He is hoping to avoid those issues.

      There are severe cases of mental illness that require drug treatment, and I am not disputing or arguing that fact. The problems are being reported that many, possibly half of the diagnosis’s are made are misdiagnosed. According to (Bruce,Shadrai; July, 2010) “Bi polar is often mistaken for depression, and this error occurs in almost half of those that have problems”. The problem with mis diagnosis is that while anti-depressants seem helpful for treating depression, it is not the proper way to treat those suffering from bi polar disorder. “Anti-depressants can worsen the disorder”. According to (Zimmerman, Mark) that lead the study in misdiagnosis he concluded by saying “Misdiagnosis can be very dangerous and have huge effects on the brain itself”. From the evidence I have researched these severe cases only make up 3 percent of the the population of the mentally ill and there are millions of prescriptions being written without the proper diagnosis. According to (Szalavitz,M.) there are many people that are being treated with Atypical Antipsychotic drugs and these drugs are for the treatment of schizophrenia and bi polar and this would make up about 3 percent. “In 2010 there were 56 million prescriptions filled for atypical antipsychotics”.

     The most dangerous side effect these drugs cause is suicidal thoughts. I have a compiling list of 29 pages full of teens as well as some adults that committed suicide and some committed murder, and these psychotropic drugs were in there systems. They had already been treated by a Psychiatrist. According to (Teen Screen Truth p.1) they raise the question if these drugs actually increase, suicide, violence and murder. They are quoted as saying. “If drugs such as Prozac, Zoloft, Ritalin, Xanax, Paxil, Thorazine and other related“anti-depressants” are actually an effective treatment, one would naturally expect suicides, murders and violent behavior to be decreasing, yet this is apparently the reverse of what is happening”. The statistics are growing higher regarding teen suicide. Some of these drugs in fact cause Akathisia, this is a mental agitation that can spark violent outbursts. It can also cause dissociative reactions, desensitizing the impact of the poor choices of wrong in the patients behavior. (Teen Screen Truth).

      We should be able to feel comfortable knowing that doctors are providing us with healthy
decisions concerning our heath. The problem that is being encountered is the side effects are growing at an accelerated rate and the overload can impair the better judgments of our health care providers. They have to sift through so many side effects and this takes a great deal of time. In an investigation done by (Duke, John Dr.) he stated “the concern of doctors being overloaded with side effects and a possible weakening in judgment to treat their patients safely.”While some of the side effects are listed on medicine bottles and are announced in the media, this is to protect the pharmaceutical companies and also the doctors that write out the prescriptions unfortunately leaving the patients vulnerable. This does not apply to all doctors but is very likely that it does happen with many of them.

    
     The greatest and most alarming conclusions lie within our children. There is a new wave of medications that have been drawn to children. ADHD and ADD. It is becoming common
practice in the public school system to determine whether our children need drugs. According to (Null, G.p.2 paragraph 4)he noted “ In some instances taking medicine is a prerequisite for attending school, with refusal to comply considered grounds for dismissal, or worse, removal of the child from the home by the state”. According to (Baughman, Fred Dr.) a board certified child Neurologist trained at New York University and Mount Sinai, he stated “It’s one thing for a court to intervene and take over as legal guardian in a case where a child’s life is truly at risk, but quite another when psychotropic drugs are forced on children who don’t fit into the mold.”

      
     Teachers are the ones that usually disclose the information to the parents along with the school counselor. This is dangerous because teachers are not doctors. It is not uncommon for 5 year old children to wiggle in their desks. Normal children are full of natural energy. According to (Null,G. p.3 para 2) he stated “What one person views as distractibility, for instance another may view as natural inquisitiveness” Many times these children are placed on medications and it is simply not needed. The psychologists of the school and recommendationsof the teacher’s evaluations of the student pressure the parents to drug their children and the parents comply because they believe they are doing what is in the best interest of their child. According to Psychologist (McGuiness, Diane, 1991) she concluded by saying, “We have invented a disease, given it medical sanction, and now must disown it. The major question is, how do we go about destroying the monster we’ve created?” There are parents that now grief and wish they would have sought after second opinions but they cannot because there children are dead. (Teen Screen Truth).

     
     This information I am about to share in one that is startling and could in fact cause life time implications on this generation of children being medicated with anti-psychotic drugs. When a child reaches the age of puberty there frontal lobe begins to grow and develop at the most growth rate since infancy. It doesn’t fully develop until the age of around 20. These years are very critical for children. The frontal lobe of our brain is where our emotions of judgment, anger and self-control and reasoning lie. (Psychology and Life 18^thedition) We often wonder why teenagers are so hard to deal with at this age and this gives us a general idea of why this can be a critical time for them. It is normal development because there are huge changes in the frontal lobe that can cause emotional upheaval during these years. The drugs can actually slow down the growth of normal development by blocking areas of the brain that have not fully matured. I am afraid we may be selling our children out to these pharmaceutical companies.  Teen suicide is increasing daily and the statistics of these drugs are ever showing there ugly faces. Psychiatrist (Cole, Joseph, p.9 Para. 1) stated “The brains of young children are developing rapidly, he pointed out, the drugs can alter the process”.

     
     Something very important to remember, according to (Null, G p. 9 Para. 6) The majority of doctors that are prescribing these medications are M. D.’s, they are not Psychiatrists, but primary care givers. They do not have the qualified training of mental illnesses to know what can happen in writing prescriptions for these life altering drugs. It has a great deal to do with quality health care and once again finances over quality of life. (Parents Magazine) points out, “Here, as with almost everything else in the tangled world of health care, behavioral problems, partly because most managed-care plans readily cover the cost of medication but often won’t pay for long-term alternative treatments, such as talk or behavioral therapy.

In my conclusion the point I hope I have properly demonstrated is that we must be careful
with these medications. Research all you can before making a decision to use them and I
would strongly recommend that you get a second opinion and be sure the proper tests are being conducted in order to determine the correct diagnosis. I believe we are on a down ward spiral in the mental health profession with the abuse of anti-depressive and psychotic drugs. There is compounding evidence that money serves a great value to the pharmaceutical industry over quality of life.

References:

Bright, Paul (July 2009) Mark Zimmerman’s study of Bi polar often misdiagnosed, study reveals

Bruce, S. (July 2010) Bipolar is Often misdiagnosed as Depression


Gardiner, H. (March 2011) Talk doesn’t pay, so Psychiatry turns instead to drug therapy. New York Times

Null, G. The Drugging of our Children (familyrightsassociation.com/bihn/white_papers-articles/drugging_our_children/) Joseph Cole

Teen Screen Truth- www.teenscreentruth.com/psychiatry_drugs_suicide.html

Szalavitz, M. (May 2009) Drugging the Vunerable: Atypical Antipsychotics in Children and the Elderly, Time Magazine