Child Medication Safety Act
WASHINGTON – Three years ago, when Sheila Matthews’ son was seven, his school psychiatrist diagnosed him with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and called her to discuss treatment options. Officials at the New Canaan school told her the boy would not be allowed to attend class unless he was medicated.
“They provided me with only pro-drug material. They never told me of the dangers,” Matthews said. . “I was fighting to get my son an education, and basically my school said there was nothing else that they could offer him.”
Soon afterward, Matthews watched on television as Patricia Weathers, another mother, testified before the House Committee on Government Reform. She contacted Weathers, and the two decided to launch a national fight to stop school from requiring students to take medication.
“We decided that we would fight, and then we found several other parents who were pressured and coerced and only given partial information [about medication], and their children died,” Matthews said.
Fearful for their children’s lives, Matthews and Weathers started AbleChild: Parents for Label and Drug Free Education, a national, non-profit grassroots organization that is pressing for a federal law that would make it illegal for schools to require students to be on medication.
The group has singled out Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) for criticism because, AbleChild said, he won’t co-sponsor the bill despite numerous requests that he do so.
Connecticut set a precedent for the rest of the country in 2001 by enacting a law similar to the federal bill the group is currently pushing. Six other states followed suit.
But Matthews said the states aren’t enforcing the laws. She said federal legislation could be more effective because it could cut off funds for states that don’t comply.
Matthews said Dodd should sign on as a co-sponsor to support what his state began. “Other states have looked at Connecticut’s state law as being model legislation,” she said.
“We have parents’ signatures who are from states which have, in fact, passed legislation prohibiting schools from coerced drugging, yet the pressure continues because there is no set accountability for violations of these laws,” Matthews said. “There must be financial penalties for federally funded agencies, namely schools, that completely disregard a parent’s right to raise their child drug free.”
Dodd’s press secretary, Ryan McGinn, said, “Senator Dodd does not support the coerced medication of children and believes that medical decisions concerning children should be made by their parents in consultation with their doctors.” McGinn did not say whether Dodd would vote for the bill.
AbleChild organizers, however, said Dodd is making no effort to get the bill out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, on which he serves.
“How can you stand by when 400 parents have come forward across the country and said, ‘Please do this’?” Matthews asked. “We’re relying on our senator to protect our children.”
The group is also targeting Dodd, she said, because of his recent announcement that Norwalk would receive federal grant money to stop drug trafficking to children.
“If he’s giving grants out on drug trafficking, these drugs that we’re asking to prohibit are controlled substances. Ritalin, all these other drugs, are in the same class as what he’s talking about stopping the abuse of, and that’s a clear conflict of interest,” Matthews said.
Matthews also has been in touch with Rep. Chris Shays (R-Norwalk) over the past two years to garner his support. The House passed its version of the bill in May, 425 to1, and Shays voted for it.
“In recent years, there has been an increase in diagnoses of attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This is largely because school personnel freely offer diagnoses and urge parents to obtain drug treatment for their children,” Shays said in a statement. “In some cases, schools are even requiring certain students to take pharmaceuticals to attend schools.
“In my judgment, this is dangerous. Advice about whether to take medication should be given by a physician or licensed medical professional, and no one should coerce a student into taking medication by threatening their ability to attend school — especially if the ‘medical advice’ is coming from an educator.”
The Association of School Psychiatrists opposes the legislation. The American Federation of Teachers has not taken a stand on the issue. Neither the National Education Association nor the Connecticut Education Association, which represent teachers, returned phone calls.
Norwalk school Superintendent Salvatore Corda said he does not think the state law, which allows students to remain in classrooms without medication, has created any serious problems.
Meanwhile, AbleChild has contacted Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), and every senator on the health committee. But Dodd is still its main focus.
“It’s frustrating as a Connecticut resident to see our senator fail to hear our cries for reform,” Matthews said.
