Report: Psychotropic meds differ

Studies have long shown that psychotropic drug use is more common among children in the child welfare system than in the general population. However, a report released this week by University of New Hampshire researchers shows that rural children in the system are prescribed drugs at higher rates than their urban counterparts. The report, released Tuesday by researchers Wendy Walsh and Marybeth Mattingly, suggests that as much as 20 percent of rural children under the watch of the welfare system are prescribed psychotropic medication – notably higher than the 13 percent who take the medications in urban areas. But, the report does not indicate whether the drugs, which include antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications, among others used to treat mental conditions, have a positive or negative effect on the children. “There is some research that shows a lot of children do benefit from medication. ...