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."
PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL SOCIALIST GERMAN WORKERS' PARTY
10. It must be the first duty of every citizen of the State to perform mental or physical work. The activities of the individual must not clash with the interests of the whole, but must proceed within the framework of the community and must be for the general good http://www4.stormfront.org/posterity/ns/25pts.html
This is going to come as a shock, but I haven't been on this thread ALL DAY and read every one of your posts. My guess about CHF was just that--a guess.
ROFLMAO! We have a winner here folks!!!!!!
You used to evaluate this stuff ? who's to say you weren't crazy when you were doing it who evaluated your evaluations or you for that matter in my opinion if half the doctors and mental health experts were evaluated the white coats would be busy 24/7 !
"tired old fart."
I'm 71, don't tell me we are occupants of the same age group.
LOL!
lets hope he screens the supreme court and a bunch of federal judges.
Not quite everyone. Unless you're using Milliion Man Math.
But continue to spew. Rhetorics unite!
That was a goodun wasn't it?
But continue to skew. Lemmings in flight!
Yes, and when we see them, we need to point them out! Good yucks are better than drugs!
Now here is a political position that many people can get behind. I'm sure you are winning over many people for their votes.
That's a group speak thing.
There are always exceptions. Seeking whatever bennies you may claim as a member of the minority on this thread, are you?
For a fact.
this is the thread
You're projecting. I don't care if every registered FReeper, past and present, hates my guts. Get over yourself.
This proposal is a piece of crap. I wouldn't care if Ronald Reagan rose from the grave and endorsed it. It's statist bullshit. But since you just came in to throw some punches from outside the ring and have nothing to say about the subject at all I'll leave it at that.
Me neither.
I'm laughing.
I bet my uber-liberal aunt and her husband, who have worked in the mental health care field for over 30 years, will not believe it either.
Now I wonder what other excuse they'll come up to hate Bush.
Me neither.
I'm laughing.
I bet my uber-liberal aunt and her husband, who have worked in the mental health care field for over 30 years, will not believe it either.
Now I wonder what other excuse they'll come up to hate Bush.
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