Surprising Number of Children on Medication

A new study on the number of children in American taking medication to calm them is on the rise prompting yet another round of debate on whether drugs are the answer to behavior problems.

The study by HealthDay News found more than 7% of kids were taking at least one medication for treatment of emotional or behavioral issues.  And that as many as 1 in 13 in this country is on some kind of mood-enhancing medication.

While some see the numbers as a disturbing trend, others say it shows children are finally getting the help they need.  "We can't advise parents on what they should do, but I think it's positive that over half of parents reported that medications helped a lot," said report author LaJeana Howie, a statistical research scientist at the U. S. Center for Health Statistics.

ADAD was the most common problem reported in the study.

Those on the medications ranged in age from 6 to 17 and involved more males than females.   The study found nearly 10% percent of parents reporting problems had sons and just half that number reported the same type of behavioral issues in daughters.

Age apparently didn't play a role in emotional problems, but more older women sought treatment than younger ones.

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