Most families could cite those statistics before the last three decades, but that doesn't change the fact that most families can now name you at least one autistic or autistic spectrum disordered family member, if only in their extended family.
If you think that's an exaggeration, post yourself at the exit of a standard supermarket and try it. You'll be very surpised. Even the medical authorities are (slowly) being forced to admit that autism and its related disorders are now pandemic (not an epidemic but no longer just incidental, either).
The people that are finally forcing the meds to admit the incidence of autism, etc., are not -- interestingly -- the families but another part of the "system": the educators and agency-based (federal and state monies) providers of care for the disabled (after families finally cave in from the burden of care). As we have witnessed with Terri Schiavo, natural family have virtually no voice in this and related situations -- only the "legal caregivers" have a voice.
"Even the medical authorities are (slowly) being forced to admit that autism and its related disorders are now pandemic (not an epidemic but no longer just incidental, either)."
Someone earlier in the thread said 1 out of 160 or so kids are now autistic. That seems ridiculusly high for a naturally occuring genetic disease. That would mean in America 2 million people would be autistic.
And asking the pharmacuetical companies or the doctors if it is safe seems suicidal to me. Its like asking the butcher and the beef farmer if the meat they are selling is safe to eat. Like you say, the people questioning it are other parts of the system who are bearing the huge costs.
Also I wonder how many people were affected by whatever the cause is, but not to the point where they were debilated.