More children are being subjected to drug restraints because more children are being admitted to mental health facilities, a new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) study found. Pharmacological restraints tend to be used with greater frequency on autistic children, low-income children and children of color.
Although the average rate for the use of drug restraints among all children ages 5-17 years old with any diagnosis remained relatively steady during the 2016-2021 study period, the analysis found a 141% increase in the use of restraint drugs overall, alongside lengthening inpatient stays.
This means more children are being hospitalized for mental health conditions and more are being subjected to drug restraints — antipsychotics used to sedate — and in ways that disproportionately disadvantage some youth.
Read the full article here: https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/psychiatric-drugs-chemical-restraints-children-mental-health/