[NHNE] ADHD Advice Secretly Paid For By Drug Companies

[Guest guest]

Comments?

Misty L. Trepke

http://www..com

 

ADHD ADVICE SECRETLY PAID FOR BY DRUGS COMPANIES

By Daniel Foggo

The Telegraph

October 9, 2005

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?

xml=/news/2005/10/09/nadhd09.xml &

sSheet=/news/2005/10/09/ixhome.html

 

Support and advice groups for parents of children with so-called

behavioural disorders are being secretly funded by pharmaceutical

firms, it can be revealed.

 

The groups give out advice on stimulant drugs and other controversial

medical treatments for young children diagnosed with attention-deficit

hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Their internet sites provide extensive

details of medications that doctors can prescribe.

 

But at the same time they are also being secretly financed by the

pharmaceutical companies which make the controversial " chemical cosh "

drugs.

 

Last night one of the groups, a government-funded charity, admitted

receiving five-figure sums from the drug giants and one of the

companies involved conceded that a desire to sell more of its product

was one of its motives for providing the finance.

 

The revelation comes amid increasing concern over the huge increase in

children being fed powerful drugs in order to control overly exuberant

behaviour.

 

Prescriptions of methyl-phenidate, a stimulant sold under several

brand names, have increased 180-fold in the past 14 years.

 

Nicknamed " the chemical cosh " for its ability to slow down children,

methyl-phenidate is predominantly prescribed to under-16s and its

side-effects include insomnia, unresponsiveness and loss of appetite.

 

Critics claim that its use is unnecessary in many instances, as the

children are exhibiting natural traits for their age which can be

alleviated with dietary measures.

 

The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support

Service (ADDISS) is a Department of Health-funded charity set up

to " provide people-friendly information and resources about ADHD " and

its website provides a factsheet giving details of the drugs that can

be supplied to children.

 

It has received funding from three of the major pharmaceutical

companies that make methylphenidate and other ADHD medications, which

have been accused of sparking suicidal behaviour and liver problems

in children.

 

However, the drug firms' financing is not acknowledged on the site

and nor do their names show up on the accounts lodged with the

Charity Commission.

 

Andrea Bilbow, the founder and chief executive of ADDISS, admitted

that her group had solicited and received total funding of around

£20,000 from Janssen-Cilag, which makes Concerta, a form of

methylphenidate, UCB Pharma, which also produces another branded form

of the drug, and Eli Lilly, which makes a form of atomoxetine,

another ADHD drug which is linked to an increased suicide risk in

children.

 

She said: " From time to time we do go to the pharmaceutical companies

to ask for money, but we are not getting massive amounts. We don't

sell our soul to the devil but we can't survive without them. "

 

Ms Bilbow said that she did not identify the companies which have

funded her charity on its internet site because to do so would be

giving them " something in return " .

 

" If we put the names on the site that would be promoting the

companies and I've told them I won't do that, " she said. " That would

be advertising and I'm not getting enough money from them for that. "

 

Another website, Adders.org, run by the Thanet ADDers non-profit

support group, also gives detailed instructions on which drugs are

available. Thanet ADDers has received money from at least one drug

company. A spokesman for Eli Lilly confirmed that it had provided

support in the form of a " small grant " . Caroline Hensby, who runs the

website, did not respond to calls.

 

The Eli Lilly spokesman said that the company wanted to help educate

people about ADHD, but she conceded that there was a degree of self-

interest in it doing so.

 

A spokesman for Janssen-Cilag confirmed that financial support had

been given to ADDISS for a " specific meeting " organised by the

charity.

 

A spokesman for UCB Pharma said: " Whilst we have good working

relationships with ADDIS and Adders, we have not provided any

significant funding or sponsorship. "

 

Not all ADHD help groups take money from the pharmaceutical companies.

 

Glenn Slater, who has a child with ADHD and runs the website

ADDvice.co.uk, which does not receive such funding,

said: " Pharmaceutical companies giving money is not a good idea as

people on the outside might get the wrong idea about the sites'

motives. "

 

Jim Mackie, former chairman of the Overload Network, which provides

support for families affected by ADHD, said: " If they [the charities]

are being funded by drug companies who are interested in promoting

their products then that should be made clear on the websites. "

 

------------

 

NHNE News List:

 

To , send a message to:

nhnenews-