Press release [Aug. 8, 2002A]

8-1684-4741

Georgia House of Representatives Public Information Office
Room 131, State Capitol 30334 404-656-5082 1-800-282-5800

August 8, 2002

PARHAM TO STUDY EFFECTS OF PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION ON CHILDREN

Atlanta State Representative Bobby Parham, D-Milledgeville, has been appointed to the Commission on Psychiatric Medication of School-Age Children. He was named to the post by House Speaker Thomas B. Murphy, D-Bremen.

According to the resolution creating the Commission, national medical reports indicate that psychiatric drugs are prescribed to between 5 million and 6 million children each year who represent about 10 percent of the total school-age population.

The resolution further states that the International Narcotics Control Board of the World Health Organization has reported the United States is among the leading users of psychiatric drugs and has warned against national trend to over prescribe stimulants for children.

"We are specifically going to examine whether incidents of school violence could be linked in some way to children being unnecessarily medicated," said Rep. Parham. "I look forward to working with fellow commission members as we search for answers to this serious issue."

Rep. Parham, a lawmaker since 1975, serves on the Health and Ecology and Rules committees as well as chairing the Motor Vehicles Committee.
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For further information please contact Rep. Parham at 404 656-5132.