Posted on 06/21/2004 10:19:15 PM PDT by JohnHuang2
President Bush plans to unveil next month a sweeping mental health initiative that recommends screening for every citizen and promotes the use of expensive antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs favored by supporters of the administration.
The New Freedom Initiative, according to a progress report, seeks to integrate mentally ill patients fully into the community by providing "services in the community, rather than institutions," the British Medical Journal reported.
Critics say the plan protects the profits of drug companies at the expense of the public.
The initiative began with Bush's launch in April 2002 of the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, which conducted a "comprehensive study of the United States mental health service delivery system."
The panel found that "despite their prevalence, mental disorders often go undiagnosed" and recommended comprehensive mental health screening for "consumers of all ages," including preschool children.
The commission said, "Each year, young children are expelled from preschools and childcare facilities for severely disruptive behaviors and emotional disorders."
Schools, the panel concluded, are in a "key position" to screen the 52 million students and 6 million adults who work at the schools.
The commission recommended that the screening be linked with "treatment and supports," including "state-of-the-art treatments" using "specific medications for specific conditions."
The Texas Medication Algorithm Project, or TMAP, was held up by the panel as a "model" medication treatment plan that "illustrates an evidence-based practice that results in better consumer outcomes."
The TMAP -- started in 1995 as an alliance of individuals from the pharmaceutical industry, the University of Texas and the mental health and corrections systems of Texas -- also was praised by the American Psychiatric Association, which called for increased funding to implement the overall plan.
But the Texas project sparked controversy when a Pennsylvania government employee revealed state officials with influence over the plan had received money and perks from drug companies who stand to gain from it.
Allen Jones, an employee of the Pennsylvania Office of the Inspector General says in his whistleblower report the "political/pharmaceutical alliance" that developed the Texas project, which promotes the use of newer, more expensive antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs, was behind the recommendations of the New Freedom Commission, which were "poised to consolidate the TMAP effort into a comprehensive national policy to treat mental illness with expensive, patented medications of questionable benefit and deadly side effects, and to force private insurers to pick up more of the tab."
Jones points out, according to the British Medical Journal, companies that helped start the Texas project are major contributors to Bush's election funds. Also, some members of the New Freedom Commission have served on advisory boards for these same companies, while others have direct ties to TMAP.
Eli Lilly, manufacturer of olanzapine, one of the drugs recommended in the plan, has multiple ties to the Bush administration, BMJ says. The elder President Bush was a member of Lilly's board of directors and President Bush appointed Lilly's chief executive officer, Sidney Taurel, to the Homeland Security Council.
Of Lilly's $1.6 million in political contributions in 2000, 82 percent went to Bush and the Republican Party.
Another critic, Robert Whitaker, journalist and author of "Mad in America," told the British Medical Journal that while increased screening "may seem defensible," it could also be seen as "fishing for customers."
Exorbitant spending on new drugs "robs from other forms of care such as job training and shelter program," he said.
However, a developer of the Texas project, Dr. Graham Emslie, defends screening.
"There are good data showing that if you identify kids at an earlier age who are aggressive, you can intervene ... and change their trajectory."
We could get a big bang for the buck by starting in Hollywood.
Brave new world, here we come. I can't believe a Republican administration has proposed such an abomination.
Ping
I can save Bush and the US a fortune: Democrat = crazy dude.
Isn't the Democratic Convention next month? Coincidence? I think not.
Do I want to oppose this based on it's cost, or do I want to oppose this just based on the program regardless of cost?
Gonna have to ponder on that.
This is idiotic.
I like my soma with a little tobasco sauce please.
And do you like what they named it --- The New Freedom Initiative
I can't believe a Republican administration has proposed such an abomination.
Believe it.
I don't believe it.
Has Bush lost his mind?
Thought I'd give you guys a heads up. You had better lay low for a while.
You're right on the money. 'Take your Soma and welcome to the Brave New World (Order)!' I thought this article was some sort of twisted satire (and hope it is). If not, I think we may be in some seriuos trouble.
No big deal, the government also suggests you clean your teeth after each meal and they haven't shown up at your door yet to check that either.
Sounds like he wants those who are sick to get help if they need it and he isn't forcing them into it that I can see.
I could have sworn that this was an Onion article when I first started reading it. Please somebody tell me that this isn't for real.
The Conspiracy nuts will have a field day with this one. And they may not be so crazy when doing so!
Naw. That's good advice for the Johnny One-Notes. ;-)
If they were properly medicated Dems might not be so bad.
It's my understanding that there was quite a debate as to the official name that this program would have, and while the NFI won out, The TLBSHOW Project was a very close 2nd.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.