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."
Looks like the answer is to leave Don Joe, talkin' to himself!
uh oh, I don't think the xanax has kicked in--see post 793 by you know who
No freedom of speech here on FR, is that your problem? Can't get people to go along with your anti-President Bush agenda here?
Feel free to write an opus, you poor thing.
I mean, you are arguing against the original source material
I ask him to provide proof of that statement and instead of backing up what he posted, he told me a story that confirmed to me, and I'm sure others, that he isn't capable of recognizing a BSer when he sees or hears one, that he needs his mama to figure it out for him.
Go figure.
Yep.
Poor little Don Joe, all upset and in tantrum fit mode. Have I offended sweet little smug snookums, just when he was beginning to feel in charge of everyone elses emotions on this thread? Cry us a river.
I believe everyone here knows exactly for whom you will cast your vote now. Assuming that Mommie will let you out of the house long enough, and if you are old enough to vote and you can find the polling place.
LOL! You are s-o-o--o-o-o-o easy. Thanks for the laughs.
"Given the President's goals, the eventual step must necessarily be universal screening, once this expansion in the purpose and mission of the federal government is undertaken."
You couldn't have universal screening without the federal gov't paying for it. BTW, how do you know that President Bush would like to impose a mandate on private insurance companies?
lol, yeah, and he'd do it too. He only listens to himself.
I'm voten yes on no.
LOL!! I don't think they'll use a doorbell...
apparently his mama is away and he has the computer all to himself for a few thousand posts/
You missed the memo - we're "compassionate", now. C'mon - get with the program...;-)
So the main purpose of this is just to up the meds!?
Every adult with a serious mental illness or child with a serious emotional disturbance must have an individualized plan of care coordinating services among programs and across agencies.
They are not going to get "EVERY" adult. There's a guy who lives about a crow's mile from me here in the country who is an extreme skitzo. He has never been to the doctor for it, because he doesn't want to get into the system. He said it's bad enough that they beam voices into his head. He doesn't want to give them any more access to his person.
You go get 'em Mr. Heinlein...;-)
I am thankful that I am not the only skeptic on this "story".
Wow! You must have a knack for getting all these women upset with you! Talk about vitriol...
" ... and to the compassion for which it stands ..."
I swear to God I may just stay home on election day.BRIGHT idea. Give the dems another victory (like when GHBush lost).
Why don't you get busy and write your REP and your SEN on this?
Do you remember how our gov't functions?
LOL You gotta be kidding. This same bunch of biddies finds a new target every day.
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