Bush to Screen Population for Mental Illness -- WorldNetDaily, 6-21-04

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" Bush to screen population for mental illness "

World Net Daily ^ | Posted: June 21, 2004

 

Posted on 06/22/2004 3:12:54 PM PDT by RussianConservative

 

Sweeping initiative links diagnoses to treatment with specific drugs

© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

President Bush plans to unveil next month a sweeping mental health

initiative that recommends screening for every citizen and promotes the

use of expensive antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs favored by

supporters of the administration.

The New Freedom Initiative, according to a progress report, seeks to

integrate mentally ill patients fully into the community by providing

" services in the community, rather than institutions, " the British

Medical Journal reported.

Critics say the plan protects the profits of drug companies at the

expense of the public.

The initiative began with Bush's launch in April 2002 of the New Freedom

Commission on Mental Health, which conducted a " comprehensive study of

the United States mental health service delivery system. "

The panel found that " despite their prevalence, mental disorders often go

undiagnosed " and recommended comprehensive mental health screening for

" consumers of all ages, " including preschool children.

The commission said, " Each year, young children are expelled from

preschools and childcare facilities for severely disruptive behaviors and

emotional disorders. "

Schools, the panel concluded, are in a " key position " to screen the 52

million students and 6 million adults who work at the schools.

The commission recommended that the screening be linked with " treatment

and supports, " including " state-of-the-art treatments " using " specific

medications for specific conditions. "

The Texas Medication Algorithm Project, or TMAP, was held up by the panel

as a " model " medication treatment plan that " illustrates an

evidence-based practice that results in better consumer outcomes. "

The TMAP -- started in 1995 as an alliance of individuals from the

pharmaceutical industry, the University of Texas and the mental health

and corrections systems of Texas -- also was praised by the American

Psychiatric Association, which called for increased funding to implement

the overall plan.

But the Texas project sparked controversy when a Pennsylvania government

employee revealed state officials with influence over the plan had

received money and perks from drug companies who stand to gain from it.

Allen Jones, an employee of the Pennsylvania Office of the Inspector

General says in his whistleblower report the " political/pharmaceutical

alliance " that developed the Texas project, which promotes the use of

newer, more expensive antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs, was behind

the recommendations of the New Freedom Commission, which were " poised to

consolidate the TMAP effort into a comprehensive national policy to treat

mental illness with expensive, patented medications of questionable

benefit and deadly side effects, and to force private insurers to pick up

more of the tab. "

Jones points out, according to the British Medical Journal, companies

that helped start the Texas project are major contributors to Bush's

election funds. Also, some members of the New Freedom Commission have

served on advisory boards for these same companies, while others have

direct ties to TMAP.

Eli Lilly, manufacturer of olanzapine, one of the drugs recommended in

the plan, has multiple ties to the Bush administration, BMJ says. The

elder President Bush was a member of Lilly's board of directors and

President Bush appointed Lilly's chief executive officer, Sidney Taurel,

to the Homeland Security Council.

Of Lilly's $1.6 million in political contributions in 2000, 82 percent

went to Bush and the Republican Party.

Another critic, Robert Whitaker, journalist and author of " Mad in

America, " told the British Medical Journal that while increased screening

" may seem defensible, " it could also be seen as " fishing for customers. "

Exorbitant spending on new drugs " robs from other forms of care such as

job training and shelter program, " he said.

However, a developer of the Texas project, Dr. Graham Emslie, defends

screening.

" There are good data showing that if you identify kids at an earlier age

who are aggressive, you can intervene ... and change their trajectory. "

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society;

Foreign Affairs; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events;

Philosophy

KEYWORDS: BIGBROTHER; CONTROL; HEALTH; MARXISM; MEDICEN; MENTAL;

MENTALHEALTH; MENTALHEALTHPARITY

 

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1 posted on 06/22/2004 3:12:55 PM PDT by RussianConservative

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RussianConservative

This is so much like the words of Orwell in Brave New World...like the

drug given to peoples of all castes to keep them sedate and working,

consuming, obeying, not worrying of God or anything/anyone else.

....... more comments can be seen by clicking on the web link...........

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