The Watch List: The medication of foster children

On this week’s episode of Need to Know, we go inside the foster care system for an installment of The Watch List: We investigate the use and potential overuse of powerful antipsychotic medication on foster children, with a special look at Texas, which has worked to reform its practices.

Foster children are some of the most heavily medicated children in the nation. Need to Know investigates the use and potential overuse of powerful antipsychotics in our foster care system, which a special focus on Texas, which has done much to reform its practices.

The Watch List: The medication of foster children
January 7, 2011

Nearly one in every 10 American children is diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Often the treatment prescribed is medication, and often the medication is heavy-duty — so-called antipsychotic drugs.

In this report, you’ll see that foster care children are prescribed drugs at a rate much greater than that of other kids. Concern over their well-being — not to mention the amount it costs to treat them — has prompted the Government Accountability Office to investigate potentially abusive prescribing practices in America’s state foster care systems. The GAO findings are expected to come out later this year.

Need to Know correspondent Shoshana Guy went to Texas to investigate overuse of psychotropic drugs in foster children, as well as that state’s efforts at reform.

Watch the full episode. See more Need To Know.