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."
Votes for what?
Mental illness = any behavior that other people have a problem with
I for one don't hate your guts. As a matter of fact I seriousely dout that you have any.
At six two and a half, it will be quite a jump at my age to get over myself, but if it will make you and Donnie happy, I'll give it my best shot.
Of course the proposal is a piece of crap, and you can bet your Kerry, it is a hit piece from the DNC, Sorroass, or some other place in the party of the liars.
It sounds like something from the old USSR, and who but their admirers the Dems. would be behind this?
Am glad to know that you're feeling better :-) It's true about not exercising, plus the fact, the weight gain that occurs from doing nothing which is difficult to lose. Unfortunately, many people don't realize why they've gained weight or their clothes don't fit, and will say they don't eat that much...lol
When several posters use the words "group think" back and forth to each other, isn't that....ah.....er....."group think?"
What I read was from the Commission Report itself. I didn't even finish the WND article. Are you saying that the DNC and/or Soros wrote this proposal at Bush's request? Here's a little fact you can stuff in your gut; Bush signed an executive order for this proposal. I specifically questioned and took issue with his own wording in the direction of that EO. Didn't see that post did you? You're a hyperinflated caricature of a self-important wannabe. Read.
Do you hate me now? ; )
That would definately be the conclusion reached by independent thinkers.
Interesting. I did not know that about HIPAA.
They can screen the loonies in Washington District of Criminals all they want. Start with the idiot who proposed this insanity.
Nobody is screening me for a damn thing.
CFR is the only example there I will cede to you as being a true failure.
The AWB extension hasn't been signed by him since it won't escape Congress.
exactly!
I'll be happy to read that post, Give me a nbumber.
I hate people who deliberately kill and maim innocent people in an attempt to intimidate people into submitting to their agenda. Unless you fit that catagory, I do not hate you.
Betcha a democrat thunk this up.. or maybe a neocon which is merely a converted democrat.. Who would know better than a neocon, that is an ex-democrat, and liberals in general, that liberals are a coupla bricks short of load.. with no tie downs.. Loose cannons with no ammunition.. Chess players playing with checker rules.. Al Gores with an empty boxes of chocolates.
The words "identifies barriers" in the second paragraph of your post relates to Nos. 3 and 4 in your "fleshed out excerpt." "Barriers" in this case refers to two things: government money and government coercion. You're still bitin', 'Tooth.
Well, I happen to agree with you. My statement was to show how there are people who will back this issue 100%. I guess I didn't make that clear. Sorry.
Thank you for the well wishes.
I have wasted enough of my time with you.
Do not post anything more to me.
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