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SCOTLAND’S first rehabilitation service has been launched to get kids off prescription drugs.
The Cactus Clinic will be Britain’s first ever withdrawal clinic dealing with youngsters on anti-depressants and anti-psychotic drugs.
The service will be run in conjunction with The Overload Network, a Scottish- based charity set up to provide an advocacy service for parents with children with behaviour problems.
Although based at the University of Tees-side, in Middlesbrough, consultants from the clinic will travel up to Scotland to meet with children and parents.
Janice Hill, 44, from Edinburgh, has been working with The Overload Network for the past 20 years and is delighted that the new clinic will help Scottish kids.
It will mainly deal with kids who suffer from Attention Deficiency Hyperactive Disorder, ADHD, but children on anti-depressants will also benefit.
She said: “There are no facilities available in Scotland for parents who do not wish to use psychiatric drugs, and for children who cannot use medication for health reasons.
“The Cactus Clinic has a wide range of medical experts who will offer parents safe withdrawal programmes, alternative solutions and guidance in all aspects of child welfare and educational needs.”
Janice believes doctors are too quick to prescribe anti-depressants to children without knowing the effect it has on developing brains.
She explained: “Information suggests that there are a huge amount of children on anti-depressants and if you take anti-depressants you are more likely to commit suicide.
“We are not saying that every child who commits suicide has taken psychiatric drugs, but no one is looking at the links in the UK between suicide and psychiatric drugs or psychiatric drugs and violence.
“Many of the drugs are off label which means they have never been safely tested on children.” A survey showed that the majority of parents are giving their children drugs because they know of no other alternative.
“But how can parents give their full consent to using mind-altering drugs when there is only selective information given to them?
“It is a public health scandal to medicate children as young as two with a cocktail of psychiatric drugs without knowing long-term effects.”
Scots parents who are worried about their children being on anti-psychotic drugs are urged to get in touch with the Cactus Clinic.
The service officially opens its doors in February next year, but already has 20 patients, including six from Scotland, on its books.
The organisers are hoping funding will allow the clinic to have a permanent Scottish base.
Janice believes the way forward in treating children with mental health problems lies with understanding what is causing the child’s problems. She explained that there are many factors that can influence child behaviour. She said: “Behaviour can be influenced by learning difficulties, nutritional deficiencies, hearing and eyesight problems and overcrowded classrooms.
“The clinic will give children access to basic medical tests to find the root of the problem. We argue that all people who have mental health problems should have access to these tests before being prescribed psychiatric drugs.
“The clinic looks at each child as an individual and tailors a programme for that child.”
Adam Ingram MSP recently raised the issue of prescribing children anti- depressant and anti-psychotic drugs in the Scottish parliament. The SNP member for the South of Scotland said: “I’m really concerned about the use of drug therapies on children in Scotland.
“Last year there was a new guideline published which recommended alternative therapies, not necessarily to replace drug therapies, but reduce dependence.”
Prem Misra, a Senior Consultant Psychiatrist in Glasgow, stressed the importance of seeking advice when weaning children off psychiatric drugs.
He said: “With drugs like Ritalin you can’t just come off them immediately, it has to be gradual and the GP should always be consulted.” CASE STUDY: My boy’s Ritalin hell was so frightening DAMIEN SIMPSON was just eight years old when he tried to kill himself with a screwdriver.
The Aberdeen youngster had spiralled into the depths of despair after being prescribed Ritalin.
Following his suicide attempt, Damien’s mum Mandy, 41, decided the psychiatric drug had to go. Mandy’s search for a safe withdrawal programme led her to clinical psychologist Steve Baldwin, who successfully weaned Damien off the drug. Professor Baldwin, who tragically died in the Selby rail disaster, pioneered research into the effect drugs such as Ritalin has on children.
A charity foundation set up in his name is helping tackle the problem. Mandy Simpson is positive that Steve saved Damien’s life and encourages all parents in her position to get in touch with the Cactus Clinic. She said: “Some children with ADHD will sail through life with Ritalin, but it wasn’t what my son needed and I was offered no alternative.” If Damien had his way he wouldn’t be here today and I’m just glad we got him weaned off Ritalin before it was too late.”
One day when Mandy was alone in the house with Damien, he tried to take his own life with a couple of screwdrivers. She said: “I was seven months’ pregnant and he turned the screwdrivers on me. I was terrified.”
Damien was put on Ritalin at seven, but Mandy began to see alarming side-effects.
She contacted Steve Baldwin and in a few months he had weaned Damien off Ritalin.
For more information, contact The Overload Network on 0131 555 4967.
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