Well, that's what I would think, and it certainly makes sense. You are not (at least the typical teacher is not) trained in medicine - so you have no business recommending anything regarding medicines.
But I'm trying to square that with the statement I quoted earlier:
it is easier for teachers and administrators to recommend drugging students who exhibit disruptive behavior or what, to a lay person, appears to be an emotional disorder
and this:
Schools authorities, supported by members of the psychiatric community, have recommended that millions of children be put on psychotropic drugs
Is this the generic "recommendation", like "I think we ought to drug them all", or is it specific, like "I really think Johnny would greatly benefit from Ritalin." ?
The former I can understand as coming from a frustrated teacher, the latter is way overstepping the law as you described it.
I wonder.
However, no matter what that article or any other says, it is illegal for a non-qualifed school member to make a medical diagnosis or recommendation for medication.
Does it happen? Yup. Would it stopped if people were called on it and sued? Yup.
As I said earlier, if anyone here has had that happen to them, you have means to have a teacher severely punished--and someone that should be punished.