Kids become prime growth market for prescription drugs

[TheMightyFavog]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/05/19/126975784/kids-become-prime-market-for-prescription-drugs?ft=1&f=1001&sc=tw&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Growth in children's use of drugs outpaced increases for all other age groups last year, says an annual report on prescription drug trends from Medco, a big manager of drug benefits.

A quarter of insured children took a prescription medicine to treat some kind of chronic condition last year, Medco says. Some big categories include drugs to treat asthma and ADHD. Overall, spending on prescription drugs for kids increased by 10.8 percent last year — more than triple the amount for seniors.

Many children now take medicines more typically prescribed for grown-ups, such as cholesterol-fighters, potent heartburn remedies and diabetes treatments.

"All these adult drugs are popping up in children, which is really disturbing," Medco's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Epstein said in a media brieing about the report. Childhood obesity is a common thread.

[louis-t]

1. I remember taking my friends kids to camp.

The line to check in for kids on meds was longer than the one for kids NOT on meds.

[Echo In Light]

2. Must drug them kiddies so they'll find the Corporatocracy more 'agreeable'

[blueamy66]

3. That's because parents cannot admit these days

that their children have a behavior problem or an eating problem or the like....it must be an illness...we must medicate.