Overmedicated teen brings loaded handguns to school:

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SSRI-Research@

Tue, 19 Oct 2004 18:06:34 -0400

" Overmedicated " teen brings loaded handguns to school:

 

This article states: " the youth began to suffer depression. She

argued that his thoughts of violence were linked to overmedication, a

situation reported in the national media as a cause of teenage suicide. "

 

This article also states: " She said the youth was an ideal student,

winner of awards from faculty and his peers, involved in programs to

interest younger students in band and music programs, and active in a

project for a prejudice-free high school environment. "

 

Of course, the boy has now been diagnosed as " bipolar " . Scientists

have yet to prove that an SSRI induced mania is a true bipolar

disorder. The connection between SSRIs and violence should be obvious

by now. Why is everyone in denial? Rosie M.

 

http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/southjersey/m101904p.htm

 

Teen sentenced to probation over guns in school

 

Tuesday, October 19, 2004

 

Ex-Highland student ordered to undergo counseling, testing

 

By RENEE WINKLER

Courier-Post Staff

CAMDEN

A teenager who carried loaded handguns to Highland High School in June

was sentenced Monday to three years probation.

 

Delivering the sentence, Superior Court Judge Angelo DiCamillo said he

was more concerned about the boy's mental state 60 years from now than

he was about punishment.

 

The probationary term will include continued counseling and monitoring

of the teen's medication for depression and a bipolar diagnosis,

DiCamillo said. It could include a residential treatment program if

one is recommended by the state's Juvenile Justice Commission, the

judge said.

 

The youth, then a 16-year-old sophomore and honor student at the

Gloucester Township high school, had visited a guidance counselor to

report that he was carrying the loaded guns in a backpack. He was

immediately admitted into a crisis center and remained there for six

days, public defender Mary Beth Neilson said.

 

She said the youth was an ideal student, winner of awards from faculty

and his peers, involved in programs to interest younger students in

band and music programs, and active in a project for a prejudice-free

high school environment.

 

Then, Neilson said, he broke up with his girlfriend, his father

underwent a kidney transplant, and the youth began to suffer

depression. She argued that his thoughts of violence were linked to

overmedication, a situation reported in the national media as a cause

of teenage suicide.

 

The father of the 16-year-old who was the alleged target of the

potential violence remained angry about the effect the incident had on

his son, who he said has moved out of state because he is afraid to

return to his father's neighborhood.

 

" This devastated my family, " said the father, who attended every

hearing in the case. " He's a very smart individual, obviously smart

enough to tell right from wrong. Gun violence is a growing trend among

American teens. "

 

" This juvenile is not the victim, " said Assistant Camden County

Prosecutor Diane Marano. She referred to a letter he had written to a

friend previously referring to a " plan to do a school shooting. "

 

She said he sought out a guidance counselor at a teacher's suggestion,

because that teacher thought he was acting strangely.

 

DiCamillo, who could have sentenced the youth to up to three years in

custody, said he believed incarceration would worsen the juvenile's

depression. Three medical professionals recommended treatment, not

punishment, DiCamillo said.

 

 

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Reach Renee Winkler at (856) 486-2455 or rwinkler