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."
Well, you can't make an omelette without scrambling a few eggs. Besides, there's plenty more kids where they come from, and these Professional Caring Persons have to learn on someone's children.
In the long run, sure, there'll be a few hundred thousand casualties -- OK, OK, maybe a few million at the most -- but in the end, we'll have a Brave New Land, where we're all as happy as can be.
And we'll each have a social worker that lets use know just how much "can be" works out to be.
So, shadda you mouf, get inna line, and remember -- trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Uncle, than to trust and OBEY.
:)
How DARE you tell her how to live her life!
If she wants to dedicate her being to the cause of establishing state control over the "mental" state of all citizens, then that's her right as a...
Oops, 'scuse me. My logic just fell apart in my hands.
BRB...
It's all explained here.
I'm the deviate, BTW. And from the looks of your post, I'd say you are too. Good thing. The world needs more of us.
That's what we call a "catch-all" clause.
Whatcha tryin' ta do, get every schmuck in the country to file a defamation action against you for trying to smear them by association? :)
If Bush adopts a proposal to screen all folks like WND says will happen, then we should be concerned, not when some impotent commission reports its recommendations.
*sigh*
Bush the Delegator asks "What oh what shall I do? pleez tell me!"
Bush the Delegator's Delegated Authority replies, "Thou shalt do thusly."
Question to the class: What oh what shall Bush the Delegator do? Will this be that moment -- that golden moment.. the first time in his history that he breaks with tradition?
I trow not.
I'm quite convinced that some people will only be happy when the Bill of Rights is completely overturned.
That's some clause, that Yossarian Clause.
I was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this Yossarian Clause and I let out a respectful whistle. "That's some clause, that Yossarian Clause," I observed.
"It's the best there is," swarthyguy agreed.
I hate you.
I don't.
Like I said, I've got thick ankles. And the little anklebiters are so dense that they Just Don't Get It and go nipping at my ankles even more when I point that out, and then pat themselves on the back for their savoir faire.
Reminds me of the joke about the idiot who walks into a bar with a pile of $#!+ in his hands, who says, "Hey, look at what I almost stepped in!"
That vote test is one of the more despicable things around.
Chilling, isn't it. Not for what it is, but for what it indicates. (There's nothing particularly scary about a couple of dark, hook-shaped clouds stirring about in no particular direction on a hot, swelteringly hot, humid day. But, when you realize what they indicate, well... it's head for the basement time.)
But private voting is also on the way out. Databases like People locators on blueberrys hooked up to voting machines means voting lists that'll display your vote aren't too far off.
After all, if you don't have anything to hide......
Welcome to the future.
"If you want a vision of the future; imagine a bootheel, stamping on a human face forever."
--George Orwell
I'm beginning to think that maybe they are. Either that, or maybe they're garlic. :)
Change that boot to a granny shoe, and you got the new improved kinder, gentler for the kids version.
After all, who can argue against health and children.
Your friend has been prescribed what is commonly called a "cocktail". ANYONE taking a comination of too many or the wrong prescriptions is setting themselves up for big problems. This is NOT limited to psychiatric medicatons.
She needs a reputable shrink - FAST!!
Best to you and your friend, ba7
Oh yeah; that'll work. < /sarcasm >
There are those who interpret "the unforgivable sin" as amounting to accounting to the devil that which is of God.
I cast my pearls before swine
Moving along, I will note that I find your words to be indicative of an arrogant child.
You are as Satan himself
Correction: you are as a nutcase.
How corrupt and feeble of you!
Um, whatever.
Obviously you are deluded into thinking that you contribute something of value around here when the fact is you are divisive and ill-informed.
Yeah, me and the rest of the deviates.
I am finished having any further discussions with you.
Promises, promises...
Signed,
Don "Proud Deviate" Joe
A "special ed" kid (i.e., any kid they can classify as out of the norm, and so much better if they can ritalinize him) is worth a lot more money.
The schools receive a dollar value per day for each student in attendance. They receive a much higher dollar amount for "special needs" students.
There is an irresistable temptation to classify as many kids as possible.
I couldn't help but notice that your attacker went suddenly silent when you pointed this out.
Bingo.
>>There is an irresistable temptation to classify as many kids as possible.
Plus, who needs a bunch of energetic boys running around playing war games and doing things boys do.
Better to prepare them for their entry into OPRAH nation.
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.