Confronted with safety concerns cited by Cook County engineer Shae Kosmalski about connecting Highway 61 and the "600 Road" where ATV trails begin via the Sawbill Trail, Tofte township chair Paul James said that ordinances have "driven people out of the woods." "What are kids supposed to do? Stay home and watch TV?" (quotes from the Cook County Star). James was backed up by Supervisors DC Olsen and Tom Muntean.
Might True respectfully suggest that kids could hike, canoe, kayak, swim, backpack, camp out, bird watch, or in any of a thousand other ways enjoy the North Country woods without the devastation caused by ATVs, not to mention the egregious waste of gas and concomitant carbon emissions that hasten the day of reckoning when global warming destroys life as we know it on the planet? This could happen in our lifetime.
True uses gas only sparingly, only for basic necessities of life. Why the hell should spoiled kids squander gas for their destructive ATVs, and in the process erode yet more of our dwindling soils?
The "recreational" use of gas-guzzling and habitat-destroying ATVs should be going the way of the horse-and-buggy if we are to survive the 21st century.
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Friday, May 23, 2008
Friday, July 20, 2007
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Urgent FDA Warning re antidepressants for kids
There's still time to call legislators who are on the conference committee regarding HF6, "safe" schools (i.e. "war is peace"-get it?) regarding the dangerous TEENSCREEN legislation authored by a board member of the Teenscreen group herself!
Controversy and conflict of interest abound on this one, let alone the irresponsible and dangerous consequences to
our children, let alone parent's rights. CALL NOW the numbers listed at the end of this email. It is vitally important that
the legislators are not swayed by those who stand to make money on this deal. See the latest from the FDA below.
NOTE: THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION ARE THOSE WHO STAND TO MAKE MONEY FROM IT. WHERE ARE THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE SUPPOSEDLY BENEFITTED FROM THIS? THEY DON'T EXIST!
Can this be any more clear??? Call your legislator NOW. See this week's articles on this issue below:
FDA News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 2, 2007
Media Inquiries: Sandy Walsh, 301-827-6242Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
FDA Proposes New Warnings About Suicidal Thinking, Behavior in Young Adults Who Take Antidepressant Medications
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today proposed that makers of all antidepressant medications update the existing black box warning on their products' labeling to include warnings about increased risks of suicidal thinking and behavior, known as suicidality, in young adults ages 18 to 24 during initial treatment (generally the first one to two months).
The proposed labeling changes also include language stating that scientific data did not show this increased risk in adults older than 24, and that adults ages 65 and older taking antidepressants have a decreased risk of suicidality. The proposed warning statements emphasize that depression and certain other serious psychiatric disorders are themselves the most important causes of suicide.
"Today's actions represent FDA's commitment to a high level of post-marketing evaluation of drug products," said Steven Galson, M.D., MPH, director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "Depression and other psychiatric disorders can have significant consequences if not appropriately treated. Antidepressant medications benefit many patients, but it is important that doctors and patients are aware of the risks."
People currently prescribed antidepressant medications should not stop taking them. Those who have concerns should notify their health care providers.
The proposed labeling changes apply to the entire category of antidepressants. Results of individual placebo-controlled scientific studies are reasonably consistent in showing a slight increase in suicidality for patients taking antidepressants in early treatment for most of the medications. Available data are not sufficient to exclude any single medication from the increased risk of suicidality.
The proposed labeling update follows similar labeling changes made in 2005 that warned of a suicidality risk in children and adolescents who use antidepressants. At that time, FDA asked manufacturers to add a black box warning to the labeling of all antidepressants to describe this risk and to emphasize the need for appropriate monitoring and close observation, particularly for younger patients taking these medications. In addition, FDA directed manufacturers to develop Medication Guides, FDA-approved user-friendly information for patients, families and caregivers, that could help improve monitoring. Medication Guides are intended to be distributed at the pharmacy with each prescription or refill of a medication.
Also in 2005, FDA began a comprehensive review of 295 individual antidepressant trials that included over 77,000 adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders, to examine the risk of suicidality in adults who are prescribed antidepressants.
In December 2006, FDA's Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee agreed that labeling changes were needed to inform health care professionals about the increased risk of suicidality in younger adults using antidepressants. Additionally, the committee noted product labeling needed to reflect the apparent beneficial effect of antidepressants in older adults and to remind health care professionals that the disorders themselves are the most important cause of suicidality.
FDA has been developing language to revise product labeling and update the Patient Medication Guides for these products. Manufacturers of antidepressants will now have 30 days to submit their revised product labels and revised Medication Guides to FDA for review.
Products involved in today's action include:
Anafranil (clomipramine)Asendin (amoxapine)Aventyl (nortriptyline)Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide)Cymbalta (duloxetine)Desyrel (trazodone HCl)Elavil (amitriptyline)Effexor (venlafaxine HCl)Emsam (selegiline)Etrafon (perphenazine/amitriptyline)fluvoxamine maleateLexapro (escitalopram hydrobromide)Limbitrol (chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline)Ludiomil (maprotiline)Marplan (isocarboxazid)Nardil (phenelzine sulfate) nefazodone HClNorpramin (desipramine HCl)Pamelor (nortriptyline)Parnate (tranylcypromine sulfate)Paxil (paroxetine HCl)Pexeva (paroxetine mesylate)Prozac (fluoxetine HCl)Remeron (mirtazapine)Sarafem (fluoxetine HCl)Seroquel (quetiapine)Sinequan (doxepin)Surmontil (trimipramine)Symbyax (olanzapine/fluoxetine)Tofranil (imipramine)Tofranil-PM (imipramine pamoate)Triavil (perphenazine/amitriptyline)Vivactil (protriptyline)Wellbutrin (bupropion HCl)Zoloft (sertraline HCl)Zyban (bupropion HCl)
For more information:
Antidepressant use in children, adolescents, and adults, including the draft labeling and draft
Medication Guides www.fda.gov/cder/drug/antidepressants/default.htm
FDA's Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee, including transcripts from the December 2006 meeting www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/cder06.html#Psychopharmacologic
21,211 Total Signatures - TeenScreen petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/TScreen/petition.html
From: Parents Against TeenScreen [mailto:parents_against_teenscreen@earthlink.net] Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 6:37 AMTo: Parents Against TeenScreenSubject: Yo Minnesota - More
Go Minnesota Go!
Also check out the following links to see letters from a lot of people opposed to Teen Screen:
Several are from the St. Cloud Times, St. Cloud, Minn.:
http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/OPINION/105030023/1006/NEWS01
http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/OPINION/105030026/1006/NEWS01%C2%A0
http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/OPINION/105030025/1006
http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/OPINION/105030024/1006
Finally, this link updates the status of TeenScreen in the Minnesota House and Senate and provides some contact information:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01624.html
Bev Miller
Controversy and conflict of interest abound on this one, let alone the irresponsible and dangerous consequences to
our children, let alone parent's rights. CALL NOW the numbers listed at the end of this email. It is vitally important that
the legislators are not swayed by those who stand to make money on this deal. See the latest from the FDA below.
NOTE: THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION ARE THOSE WHO STAND TO MAKE MONEY FROM IT. WHERE ARE THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE SUPPOSEDLY BENEFITTED FROM THIS? THEY DON'T EXIST!
Can this be any more clear??? Call your legislator NOW. See this week's articles on this issue below:
FDA News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 2, 2007
Media Inquiries: Sandy Walsh, 301-827-6242Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
FDA Proposes New Warnings About Suicidal Thinking, Behavior in Young Adults Who Take Antidepressant Medications
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today proposed that makers of all antidepressant medications update the existing black box warning on their products' labeling to include warnings about increased risks of suicidal thinking and behavior, known as suicidality, in young adults ages 18 to 24 during initial treatment (generally the first one to two months).
The proposed labeling changes also include language stating that scientific data did not show this increased risk in adults older than 24, and that adults ages 65 and older taking antidepressants have a decreased risk of suicidality. The proposed warning statements emphasize that depression and certain other serious psychiatric disorders are themselves the most important causes of suicide.
"Today's actions represent FDA's commitment to a high level of post-marketing evaluation of drug products," said Steven Galson, M.D., MPH, director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "Depression and other psychiatric disorders can have significant consequences if not appropriately treated. Antidepressant medications benefit many patients, but it is important that doctors and patients are aware of the risks."
People currently prescribed antidepressant medications should not stop taking them. Those who have concerns should notify their health care providers.
The proposed labeling changes apply to the entire category of antidepressants. Results of individual placebo-controlled scientific studies are reasonably consistent in showing a slight increase in suicidality for patients taking antidepressants in early treatment for most of the medications. Available data are not sufficient to exclude any single medication from the increased risk of suicidality.
The proposed labeling update follows similar labeling changes made in 2005 that warned of a suicidality risk in children and adolescents who use antidepressants. At that time, FDA asked manufacturers to add a black box warning to the labeling of all antidepressants to describe this risk and to emphasize the need for appropriate monitoring and close observation, particularly for younger patients taking these medications. In addition, FDA directed manufacturers to develop Medication Guides, FDA-approved user-friendly information for patients, families and caregivers, that could help improve monitoring. Medication Guides are intended to be distributed at the pharmacy with each prescription or refill of a medication.
Also in 2005, FDA began a comprehensive review of 295 individual antidepressant trials that included over 77,000 adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders, to examine the risk of suicidality in adults who are prescribed antidepressants.
In December 2006, FDA's Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee agreed that labeling changes were needed to inform health care professionals about the increased risk of suicidality in younger adults using antidepressants. Additionally, the committee noted product labeling needed to reflect the apparent beneficial effect of antidepressants in older adults and to remind health care professionals that the disorders themselves are the most important cause of suicidality.
FDA has been developing language to revise product labeling and update the Patient Medication Guides for these products. Manufacturers of antidepressants will now have 30 days to submit their revised product labels and revised Medication Guides to FDA for review.
Products involved in today's action include:
Anafranil (clomipramine)Asendin (amoxapine)Aventyl (nortriptyline)Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide)Cymbalta (duloxetine)Desyrel (trazodone HCl)Elavil (amitriptyline)Effexor (venlafaxine HCl)Emsam (selegiline)Etrafon (perphenazine/amitriptyline)fluvoxamine maleateLexapro (escitalopram hydrobromide)Limbitrol (chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline)Ludiomil (maprotiline)Marplan (isocarboxazid)Nardil (phenelzine sulfate) nefazodone HClNorpramin (desipramine HCl)Pamelor (nortriptyline)Parnate (tranylcypromine sulfate)Paxil (paroxetine HCl)Pexeva (paroxetine mesylate)Prozac (fluoxetine HCl)Remeron (mirtazapine)Sarafem (fluoxetine HCl)Seroquel (quetiapine)Sinequan (doxepin)Surmontil (trimipramine)Symbyax (olanzapine/fluoxetine)Tofranil (imipramine)Tofranil-PM (imipramine pamoate)Triavil (perphenazine/amitriptyline)Vivactil (protriptyline)Wellbutrin (bupropion HCl)Zoloft (sertraline HCl)Zyban (bupropion HCl)
For more information:
Antidepressant use in children, adolescents, and adults, including the draft labeling and draft
Medication Guides www.fda.gov/cder/drug/antidepressants/default.htm
FDA's Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee, including transcripts from the December 2006 meeting www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/cder06.html#Psychopharmacologic
21,211 Total Signatures - TeenScreen petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/TScreen/petition.html
From: Parents Against TeenScreen [mailto:parents_against_teenscreen@earthlink.net] Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 6:37 AMTo: Parents Against TeenScreenSubject: Yo Minnesota - More
Go Minnesota Go!
Also check out the following links to see letters from a lot of people opposed to Teen Screen:
Several are from the St. Cloud Times, St. Cloud, Minn.:
http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/OPINION/105030023/1006/NEWS01
http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/OPINION/105030026/1006/NEWS01%C2%A0
http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/OPINION/105030025/1006
http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/OPINION/105030024/1006
Finally, this link updates the status of TeenScreen in the Minnesota House and Senate and provides some contact information:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01624.html
Bev Miller
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
The USDA's unhealthful budget - baltimoresun.com
You heard it first from True: the USDA makes us fat!!! Check out this Emperor's-New-Clothes story from the Baltimore Sun:
The USDA's unhealthful budget - baltimoresun.com
The USDA's unhealthful budget - baltimoresun.com
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Sales tax reprise: county to hire lobbyist!
The Cook County board will spend up to $10,000 on a lobbyist to support the sales tax proposals currently wending their way through the legislature.
The board takes this step after hearing a lot of public criticism, including Yours Truly, against more sales taxes that are hardest on the poor.
Also, it comes after their knee-jerk response to the self-justifications and manufactured facts presented by the so-called Cook County Economic Analysis Council, a self-serving group that represents resort owners and others who consistently pay the lowest wages to their employees, so that they can fund yet MORE PR stuff on their own behalf than they already get from taxpayers. (See previous posts, including "Tourism sales: one-third or 82 percent?" Click on the labels for tourism, taxes, and economy.)
True thinks of forming a Cook County Bullshit Analysis Council, writing a more truthful and fact-checked report about the county's economy and our need to promote NON-tourism jobs, and making as much noise as the ATV and CCEAC folks.
As for the dropping the cap on the hospital levy, True does support this. It is a fair tax and we need our hospital. As for the so-called "infrastructure" tax, True agrees that we need infrastructure improvements in the county, but there are plenty of state and federal and private grant programs that ought to be looked at first. $10K would pay for a powerful lot of grantwriting. Moreover, the proposed improvements in the present version will all go to Grand Marais. West-Enders, a lot of whom didn't like the sales tax idea in the first place, will get shafted.
As for the three-percent recreation tax, the idea here seems to be that only tourists will be paying it. Not so, struggling young families will be paying it so their kids can have some fun.
VOTE NO on the one-percent referendum! But the ordinary citizen apparently won't even get a vote on the three-percent, if it passes the legislature. True calls this TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION! Only the CCEAC is represented, not the vast majority of voters and taxpayers.
The board takes this step after hearing a lot of public criticism, including Yours Truly, against more sales taxes that are hardest on the poor.
Also, it comes after their knee-jerk response to the self-justifications and manufactured facts presented by the so-called Cook County Economic Analysis Council, a self-serving group that represents resort owners and others who consistently pay the lowest wages to their employees, so that they can fund yet MORE PR stuff on their own behalf than they already get from taxpayers. (See previous posts, including "Tourism sales: one-third or 82 percent?" Click on the labels for tourism, taxes, and economy.)
True thinks of forming a Cook County Bullshit Analysis Council, writing a more truthful and fact-checked report about the county's economy and our need to promote NON-tourism jobs, and making as much noise as the ATV and CCEAC folks.
As for the dropping the cap on the hospital levy, True does support this. It is a fair tax and we need our hospital. As for the so-called "infrastructure" tax, True agrees that we need infrastructure improvements in the county, but there are plenty of state and federal and private grant programs that ought to be looked at first. $10K would pay for a powerful lot of grantwriting. Moreover, the proposed improvements in the present version will all go to Grand Marais. West-Enders, a lot of whom didn't like the sales tax idea in the first place, will get shafted.
As for the three-percent recreation tax, the idea here seems to be that only tourists will be paying it. Not so, struggling young families will be paying it so their kids can have some fun.
VOTE NO on the one-percent referendum! But the ordinary citizen apparently won't even get a vote on the three-percent, if it passes the legislature. True calls this TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION! Only the CCEAC is represented, not the vast majority of voters and taxpayers.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
DFL-led House OKs shift in tax burden, Pawlenty promises veto
Governor Tim Pawlenty, best known for a swell haircut, a toothy smile and a total lack of understanding of Minnesota history and values, has promised to veto a House bill shifting some of the state's tax burden to those who can afford it.
Dear old Hubert H. Humphrey, our long-winded and well-beloved former Vice President, who faithfully spoke his joyful message at DFL bean feeds, would be glad today at the House vote. Paul Wellstone, the people's senator, would be jumping up and down with joy.
Minnesota has (until the bad old Reagan years) always been about its people, its workers, its children and their collective well being. AND also, about supporting local governments and schools so the big tax burdens don't fall on the few.
True is proud to provide the link to this story from the Strib. Hopefully people in Cook County will recognize that the old Minnesota way that produced a great way of life is still the best way.
Read on:
DFL-led House OKs shift in tax burden
Dear old Hubert H. Humphrey, our long-winded and well-beloved former Vice President, who faithfully spoke his joyful message at DFL bean feeds, would be glad today at the House vote. Paul Wellstone, the people's senator, would be jumping up and down with joy.
Minnesota has (until the bad old Reagan years) always been about its people, its workers, its children and their collective well being. AND also, about supporting local governments and schools so the big tax burdens don't fall on the few.
True is proud to provide the link to this story from the Strib. Hopefully people in Cook County will recognize that the old Minnesota way that produced a great way of life is still the best way.
Read on:
DFL-led House OKs shift in tax burden
Thursday, April 26, 2007
New evidence links school shootings, psychiatric drugs
In the following letter, Bev Miller updates True on the latest status of the controversial TeenScreen program in the Minnesota legislature. She also provides some scary recent articles and a clip by Michael Moore that will hopefully pop a few eyeballs.
True,
This is to let you know about s/thing that is being considered right now by the Minnesota House and Senate Conference Committee-- it's part of a big bill they'll be giving the governor any day now. Since I know many folks in our community care about this issue I'm sending this to you. Parents won't even know they have the option to turn this down. Please send this to anyone you know to call one of the legislators listed below.
This a question of freedom for parents and protecting our kids from proven false labeling. Let alone the violence connection as shown even with the recent school shooting. Check out Michael Moore's clip below if you can.
Thanks very much. - Bev
The Minnesota House and Senate Conference Committee is still debating and could vote any day on whether TeenScreen goes or stays in the final bill.
Thank you for your calls! They are getting much attention. It is crucial at this point for us all to contact friends and family and brief them on the bill. Get them to call any or all committee members. Please let me know how many people you're able to get to call in.
Here is a brief summary to help you enlighten your friends and family:
House File 6 contains a provision (126C.44 Safe Scools Levy) which increases a property tax levy for schools by 11% to fund a program called TeenScreen. It is worded as "suicide prevention tools." TeenScreen is a very controversial suicide screening questionnaire that asks very open and vague questions about how they feel.
Here are some examples of the questions asked in the teenscreen:
7 Have you often felt very nervous when youve had to do things in front of people?
7 Has there been a time when you had less energy than you usually do?
7 Has there been a time when you felt you couldnt do anything well or that you werent as good-looking or as smart as other people?
7 Has there been a time when you couldnt think as clearly or as fast as usual?
7 How often did your parents feel worried or concerned about the way you were feeling or acting?
A survey of psychiatrists published in a 2002 Journal of American Medicine article shows that 9 out 10 kids leaving a psychiatrists office leave with a prescription for dangerous psychiatric drugs. These same drugs have received a Black Box warning from the FDA due to their potential to create suicidal and homicidal ideas in kids.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force "found no evidence that screening for suicide risk reduces suicide attempts or mortality."
Important, but not necessary are citizens from these areas:
The area to the southeast of the St Paulmetro area
Oakdale
Fairbault, Morristown, Medford
Freeport, Melrose, Glenwood, Starbuck, Sauk Centre
St. Cloud, Rockville
North Saint Paul, Maplewood
Lake Elmo, Woodbury, Afton, Stillwater
White Bear Lake, North Oaks, Oak Park
Independence, Maple Plain, Medina, Minnetrista, Mound, Orono, Wayzata, Excelsior
Here are the Conference Committee members:
District Area Code 651
65B Rep. Mariani 296-9714
55B Rep. Slawik 296-7807
26B Rep. Fritz 296-8237
13A Rep. Heidgerken 296-4317
15 Sen. Clark 296-6455
55 Sen. Wiger 296-6820
56 Sen. Saltzman 296-4166
53 Sen. Rummel 296-1253
33 Sen. Gen Olson 296-1282
Here are some more links for background information.
From: Parents Against TeenScreen [mailto:parents_against_teenscreen@earthlink.net] Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 3:10 PMTo: Parents Against TeenScreenSubject: Michael Moore, School Shooters and Are Drugs to blame for Cho's rampage?
In 2002, Fox National News reporter Douglas Kennedy exposed the link between psychiatric drugs and school shootings;
Click here to watch video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S-7aNPf33A
Filmmaker Michael Moore has also called for a federal investigation into school shooters and psychiatric drugs.
Click here to watch video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSZ9YTnSkLc
In September 2005, following confirmation that Red Lake Indian Reservation school shooter, Jeff Weise, was under the influence of the antidepressant Prozac, the National Foundation of Women Legislators, together with American Indian tribal leaders, called for a Congressional investigation into the correlation between psychiatric drug use and school massacres. Congress has yet to investigate the role of psychiatric drugs relating to school shootings despite international drug regulators warning these drugscan cause mania, psychosis, hallucinations, suicide and homicidal ideation.
At least eight of the recent school shooters were under the influence of such drugs, and according to the NY Times, prescription medications said to be related to treatment of psychological problems were found among Cho Seung-Hui's effects. The Associated Press reported today that "Pathologists sent blood samples for toxicology testing to determine if Cho was on drugs at the time of his rampage, but it could take as long as two weeks to get the results."
VIRGINIA TECH MASSACREAre meds to blame for Cho's rampage?Experts say psychiatric drugs linked to long list of school shooting sprees
April 23, 2007
By Bob Unruh
Cho Seung-Hui
Cho Seung-Hui's murderous rampage – during which he killed 32 students and faculty members at Virginia Tech – is prompting research into gun laws, resident aliens and graphically violent writings. Investigators also may want to check his medicine cabinet, because psychiatric drugs have been linked to hundreds of violent episodes, including most of the school shootings in the last two decades.
The New York Times has reported the killer was on a prescription medication, and authorities have said he was confined briefly several years ago for a mental episode. They also have confirmed that the "prescription drugs" found among his effects related to the treatment of psychological problems.
Dr. Peter Breggin, a prominent critic of psychiatric drugs and founder of the International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology, said even if Cho wasn't taking psychiatric drugs the day of the shooting, "he might have been tipped over into violent madness weeks or months earlier by a drug like Prozac, Paxil, or Zoloft."
While media reports have focused on guns and gun laws, Cho's violent writings and autistic behavior at Virginia Tech and the delay in notifying students and faculty of the beginnings of the shootings, there are those who say the focus should be on his medical history.
"In my book 'Reclaiming Our Children,' I analyzed the clinical and scientific reasons for believing that Eric Harris's violence was caused by prescribed Luvox and I've also testified to the same under oath in depositions in a case related to Columbine," Breggin wrote, referring to the 1999 tragedy when Harris and classmate Dylan Klebold shot and bombed students at the Colorado school until a dozen were dead.
"In my book "The Antidepressant Fact Book," I also warned that stopping antidepressants can be as dangerous as starting them, since they can cause very disturbing and painful withdrawal reactions," he added.
The TeenScreenTruth website, dealing with the campaign to "screen" children for "problems" and then prescribe drugs, has documented an extended list of violent episodes believed connected to the use of psychiatric drugs.
They range as far back as 1985, when Atlanta postal worker Steven W. Brownlee, who had been getting psychotropic drugs, pulled a gun and shot and killed a supervisor and a clerk.
Among the specifically school-related attacks the site documents are:
In 1988, 31-year-old Laurie Dann, who had been taking Anafranil and Lithium, walked into a second-grade classroom in Winnetka, Ill., and began shooting. One child was killed and six wounded.
Later that same year, 19-year-old James Wilson went on a shooting rampage at the Greenwood, S.C., Elementary School and killed two 8-year-old girls and wounded seven others. He'd been on Xanax, Valium and five other drugs.
Kip Kinkel, a 15-year-old of Springfield, Ore., in 1998 murdered his parents and proceeded to his high school where he went on a rampage killing two students and wounding 22 others. Kinkel had been prescribed both Prozac and Ritalin.
Patrick Purdy, 25, in 1989 opened fire on a school yard filled with children in Stockton, Calif. Five kids were killed and 30 wounded. He been treated with Thorazine and Amitriptyline.
Steve Lieth of Chelsea, Mich., in 1993 walked into a school meeting and shot and killed the school superintendent, wounding two others, while on Prozac.
10-year-old Tommy Becton in 1996 grabbed his 3-year-old niece as a shield and aimed a shotgun at a sheriff's deputy who accompanied a truant officer to his Florida home. He'd been put on Prozac.
Michael Carneal, 14, opened fire on students at a high school prayer meeting in Heath High in West Paducah, Ky. Three died and one was paralyzed. Carneal reportedly was on Ritalin.
In 1998, 11-year-old Andrew Golden and 14-year-old Mitchell Johnson apparently faked a fire alarm at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Ark., and shot at students as they left the building. Four students and a teacher were killed. The boys were believed to be on Ritalin.
In 1999, Shawn Cooper, 15, of Notus, Idaho , took a shotgun to school and injured one student. He had been taking Ritalin.
April 20, 1999, Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, shot and killed 12 classmates and a teacher and wounded 24 others. Harris had been taking Luvox.
Todd Smith walked into as high school in Taber, Alberta, Canada in 1999 with a shotgun and killed one and injured a second student. He has been given a drug after a five-minute phone consultation with a psychiatrist.
Steven Abrams drove his car into a preschool playground in 1999 in Costa Mesa., Calif., killing two. He was on probation with a requirement to take Lithium.
In 2000, T.J. Solomon, 15, opened fire at Heritage High School in Conyers, Ga., while on a mix of antidepressants. Six were wounded.
The same year Seth Trickey of Gibson, Okla., 13, was on a variety of prescriptions when he opened fire on his middle-school class, injuring five.
Elizabeth Bush, 14, was on Prozac. She shot and wounded another student at Bishop Neumann High in Williamsport , Pa.
Jason Hoffman, 18, in 2001 was on Effexor and Celexa, both antidepressants, when he wounded two teachers at California's Granite Hills High School.
In Wahluke, Wash., Cory Baadsgaard, 16, took a rifle to his high schooland held 23 classmates hostage in 2001. He has been taking Paxil and Effexor.
In Tokyo in 2001, Mamoru Takuma, 37, went into a second-grade classroom and started stabbing students. He killed eight. He had taken 10 times his normal dosage of an antidepressant.
Duane Morrison, 53, shot and killed a girl at Platte Canyon High School in Colorado in 2006. Antidepressants later we re found in his vehicle.
In 2005, 16-year-old Native American Jeff Weise on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota was under the influence of the antidepressant Prozac when he shot and killed nine people and wounding five before committing suicide.
Another case involving a school-age youth – although not at a school – happened in 1986, when 14-year-old Rod Mathews of Canton, Mass., beat a classmate to death with a baseball bat while on Ritalin.
And just a few among the dozens of incidents cited, but not apparently related to schools:
William Cruse in 1987 was charged with killing six people in Palm Bay, Fla., after taking psychiatric drugs for "several years."
The same year, Bartley James Dobben killed his two young sons by throwing them into a 1,300-degree foundry ladle. He been on a "regimen" of psychiatric drugs.
Joseph T. WesBecker, 47, just a month after he began taking Prozac, shot 20 workers at Standard Gravure Corp. in Louisville, Ky., killing nine. Eli Lilly, which makes Prozac, later settled a lawsuit brought by survivors.
In 1991, 61-year-old Barbara Mortenson, on Prozac for two weeks, "cannibalized her 87-year-old mother …"
In 1992, Lynnwood Drake III, shot and killed six in San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay. Prozac and Valium were found in his system.
Sixteen-year-old Victor Brancaccio attacked and killed an 81-year-old woman, covered her corpse with red spray-paint. He was two months into a Zoloft regimen.
While on four medications including Prozac, Dr. Debora Green in 1995 set her Prairie Village, Mo., home on fire, killing her children, ages 6 and 13.
Kurt Danysh, 18, shot and killed his father in 1996, 17 days after his first dose of Prozac. "I didn't realize I did it until after it was done. … This might sound weird, but it felt like I had no control of what I was doing, like I was left there just holding a gun."
In 1998, GlaxoSmithKline, maker of Paxil, was ordered to pay $6.4 million to surviving family members after Donald Schnell, 60, just 48 hours after taking Paxil, flew into a rage and killed his wife, daughter and granddaughter.
The website also cites psychiatrist Chester M. Pierce, in a speech advocating for the treatment of children and youth.
"Every child in America entering school at the age of five is insane because he comes to school with certain allegiances to our founding fathers, towards our elected officials, towards his parents, towards a belief in a supernatural being, and towards the sovereignty of this nation as a separate entity. It's up to you as teachers to make all these sick children well – by creating the international child of the future," Pierce told a 1973 childhood seminar.
Breggin's conclusion that whatever mental manifestations were causing Cho's dangerous behavior, resulting in a professor asking for him to be removed from her class and two complaints of stalking, there was a solution.
"The answer to vengeful, violent people is not more mental health screening or more potent mental health interventions. Reliance on the whole range of this system from counseling to involuntary treatment failed. There is not a shred of scientific evidence that locking people up against their will or otherwise 'treating' them reduces violence. As we'll see, quite the opposite is true," he wrote. "So what was needed? Police intervention."
He wrote that "it's not politically correct to bring criminal charges against someone who is 'mentally ill' and it's not politically correct to prosecute him or to remove him from the campus. Yet that's what was needed to protect the students. Two known episodes of stalking, setting a fire, and his threatening behavior in class should have been more than enough for the university administration to bring charges against him and to send him off campus."
He continued with a warning, "And what about drugs for the treatment of violence? The FDA has not approved any medications for the control of violence because there are no such medications. Yes, it is possible to temporarily immobilize mind and body alike with a shot of an 'antipsychotic' drug like Haldol; but that only works as long as the person is virtually paralyzed and confined – and forced drugging invariably breeds more resentment.
"Instead of offering the promise of reducing violence, all psychiatric drugs carry the potential risk of driving the individual into violent madness. For example, both the newer antidepressants such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft and Celexa, and the antipsychotic drugs such as Risperdal and Zyprexa, cause a disorder caused akathisia – a terrible inner sensation of agitation accompanied by a compulsion to move about. Akathisia is known to drive people to suicide and to aggression."
He said he's been writing for more than 15 years about the capacity for psychiatric drugs to cause mayhem, murder and suicide, but it wasn't until 2005 when the FDA issued a warning that such drugs produce "anxiety, agitation, panic attacks …"
He said in the Columbine case, Harris "looks the most like Cho. Both were very emotionally disturbed in an extremely violent fashion for a prolonged period of time."
Carolyn Rude, chairwoman of Virginia Tech's English department, said Cho's writings were so disturbing he was referred to the school's counselors.
"Sometimes, in creative writing, people reveal things and you never know if it's creative or if they're describing things, if they're imagining things or just how real it might be," she said. "But we're all alert to not ignore things like this."
In a statement posted on the TeenScreen opposition site, Sidney Taurel of Eli Lilly noted that it would be "unreasonable" to expect "that there is such a thing as a risk-free drug."
Another website concerning the psychiatric drugs, called RitalinDeath, also documents some of these cases, as well as additional ones.
Dr. John Breeding concluded in a report shortly after Columbine that there were about five million school children now being given psychiatric drugs, and the number had been doubling every 10 years since the 1970s.
"This has got to be a cause for major alarm in all adults," he said. "The bottom line is that we are giving stronger and stronger psychiatric drugs to more and more children. Many of our children are taking mo re than one of these drugs at a time, and many of these drugs were never even tested and approved for children."
Over 21,000 signatures: http://www.petitiononline.com/TScreen/petition.html
TeenScreen - National Fraud video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfU9puZQKBY
True,
This is to let you know about s/thing that is being considered right now by the Minnesota House and Senate Conference Committee-- it's part of a big bill they'll be giving the governor any day now. Since I know many folks in our community care about this issue I'm sending this to you. Parents won't even know they have the option to turn this down. Please send this to anyone you know to call one of the legislators listed below.
This a question of freedom for parents and protecting our kids from proven false labeling. Let alone the violence connection as shown even with the recent school shooting. Check out Michael Moore's clip below if you can.
Thanks very much. - Bev
The Minnesota House and Senate Conference Committee is still debating and could vote any day on whether TeenScreen goes or stays in the final bill.
Thank you for your calls! They are getting much attention. It is crucial at this point for us all to contact friends and family and brief them on the bill. Get them to call any or all committee members. Please let me know how many people you're able to get to call in.
Here is a brief summary to help you enlighten your friends and family:
House File 6 contains a provision (126C.44 Safe Scools Levy) which increases a property tax levy for schools by 11% to fund a program called TeenScreen. It is worded as "suicide prevention tools." TeenScreen is a very controversial suicide screening questionnaire that asks very open and vague questions about how they feel.
Here are some examples of the questions asked in the teenscreen:
7 Have you often felt very nervous when youve had to do things in front of people?
7 Has there been a time when you had less energy than you usually do?
7 Has there been a time when you felt you couldnt do anything well or that you werent as good-looking or as smart as other people?
7 Has there been a time when you couldnt think as clearly or as fast as usual?
7 How often did your parents feel worried or concerned about the way you were feeling or acting?
A survey of psychiatrists published in a 2002 Journal of American Medicine article shows that 9 out 10 kids leaving a psychiatrists office leave with a prescription for dangerous psychiatric drugs. These same drugs have received a Black Box warning from the FDA due to their potential to create suicidal and homicidal ideas in kids.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force "found no evidence that screening for suicide risk reduces suicide attempts or mortality."
Important, but not necessary are citizens from these areas:
The area to the southeast of the St Paulmetro area
Oakdale
Fairbault, Morristown, Medford
Freeport, Melrose, Glenwood, Starbuck, Sauk Centre
St. Cloud, Rockville
North Saint Paul, Maplewood
Lake Elmo, Woodbury, Afton, Stillwater
White Bear Lake, North Oaks, Oak Park
Independence, Maple Plain, Medina, Minnetrista, Mound, Orono, Wayzata, Excelsior
Here are the Conference Committee members:
District Area Code 651
65B Rep. Mariani 296-9714
55B Rep. Slawik 296-7807
26B Rep. Fritz 296-8237
13A Rep. Heidgerken 296-4317
15 Sen. Clark 296-6455
55 Sen. Wiger 296-6820
56 Sen. Saltzman 296-4166
53 Sen. Rummel 296-1253
33 Sen. Gen Olson 296-1282
Here are some more links for background information.
From: Parents Against TeenScreen [mailto:parents_against_teenscreen@earthlink.net] Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 3:10 PMTo: Parents Against TeenScreenSubject: Michael Moore, School Shooters and Are Drugs to blame for Cho's rampage?
In 2002, Fox National News reporter Douglas Kennedy exposed the link between psychiatric drugs and school shootings;
Click here to watch video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S-7aNPf33A
Filmmaker Michael Moore has also called for a federal investigation into school shooters and psychiatric drugs.
Click here to watch video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSZ9YTnSkLc
In September 2005, following confirmation that Red Lake Indian Reservation school shooter, Jeff Weise, was under the influence of the antidepressant Prozac, the National Foundation of Women Legislators, together with American Indian tribal leaders, called for a Congressional investigation into the correlation between psychiatric drug use and school massacres. Congress has yet to investigate the role of psychiatric drugs relating to school shootings despite international drug regulators warning these drugscan cause mania, psychosis, hallucinations, suicide and homicidal ideation.
At least eight of the recent school shooters were under the influence of such drugs, and according to the NY Times, prescription medications said to be related to treatment of psychological problems were found among Cho Seung-Hui's effects. The Associated Press reported today that "Pathologists sent blood samples for toxicology testing to determine if Cho was on drugs at the time of his rampage, but it could take as long as two weeks to get the results."
VIRGINIA TECH MASSACREAre meds to blame for Cho's rampage?Experts say psychiatric drugs linked to long list of school shooting sprees
April 23, 2007
By Bob Unruh
Cho Seung-Hui
Cho Seung-Hui's murderous rampage – during which he killed 32 students and faculty members at Virginia Tech – is prompting research into gun laws, resident aliens and graphically violent writings. Investigators also may want to check his medicine cabinet, because psychiatric drugs have been linked to hundreds of violent episodes, including most of the school shootings in the last two decades.
The New York Times has reported the killer was on a prescription medication, and authorities have said he was confined briefly several years ago for a mental episode. They also have confirmed that the "prescription drugs" found among his effects related to the treatment of psychological problems.
Dr. Peter Breggin, a prominent critic of psychiatric drugs and founder of the International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology, said even if Cho wasn't taking psychiatric drugs the day of the shooting, "he might have been tipped over into violent madness weeks or months earlier by a drug like Prozac, Paxil, or Zoloft."
While media reports have focused on guns and gun laws, Cho's violent writings and autistic behavior at Virginia Tech and the delay in notifying students and faculty of the beginnings of the shootings, there are those who say the focus should be on his medical history.
"In my book 'Reclaiming Our Children,' I analyzed the clinical and scientific reasons for believing that Eric Harris's violence was caused by prescribed Luvox and I've also testified to the same under oath in depositions in a case related to Columbine," Breggin wrote, referring to the 1999 tragedy when Harris and classmate Dylan Klebold shot and bombed students at the Colorado school until a dozen were dead.
"In my book "The Antidepressant Fact Book," I also warned that stopping antidepressants can be as dangerous as starting them, since they can cause very disturbing and painful withdrawal reactions," he added.
The TeenScreenTruth website, dealing with the campaign to "screen" children for "problems" and then prescribe drugs, has documented an extended list of violent episodes believed connected to the use of psychiatric drugs.
They range as far back as 1985, when Atlanta postal worker Steven W. Brownlee, who had been getting psychotropic drugs, pulled a gun and shot and killed a supervisor and a clerk.
Among the specifically school-related attacks the site documents are:
In 1988, 31-year-old Laurie Dann, who had been taking Anafranil and Lithium, walked into a second-grade classroom in Winnetka, Ill., and began shooting. One child was killed and six wounded.
Later that same year, 19-year-old James Wilson went on a shooting rampage at the Greenwood, S.C., Elementary School and killed two 8-year-old girls and wounded seven others. He'd been on Xanax, Valium and five other drugs.
Kip Kinkel, a 15-year-old of Springfield, Ore., in 1998 murdered his parents and proceeded to his high school where he went on a rampage killing two students and wounding 22 others. Kinkel had been prescribed both Prozac and Ritalin.
Patrick Purdy, 25, in 1989 opened fire on a school yard filled with children in Stockton, Calif. Five kids were killed and 30 wounded. He been treated with Thorazine and Amitriptyline.
Steve Lieth of Chelsea, Mich., in 1993 walked into a school meeting and shot and killed the school superintendent, wounding two others, while on Prozac.
10-year-old Tommy Becton in 1996 grabbed his 3-year-old niece as a shield and aimed a shotgun at a sheriff's deputy who accompanied a truant officer to his Florida home. He'd been put on Prozac.
Michael Carneal, 14, opened fire on students at a high school prayer meeting in Heath High in West Paducah, Ky. Three died and one was paralyzed. Carneal reportedly was on Ritalin.
In 1998, 11-year-old Andrew Golden and 14-year-old Mitchell Johnson apparently faked a fire alarm at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Ark., and shot at students as they left the building. Four students and a teacher were killed. The boys were believed to be on Ritalin.
In 1999, Shawn Cooper, 15, of Notus, Idaho , took a shotgun to school and injured one student. He had been taking Ritalin.
April 20, 1999, Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, shot and killed 12 classmates and a teacher and wounded 24 others. Harris had been taking Luvox.
Todd Smith walked into as high school in Taber, Alberta, Canada in 1999 with a shotgun and killed one and injured a second student. He has been given a drug after a five-minute phone consultation with a psychiatrist.
Steven Abrams drove his car into a preschool playground in 1999 in Costa Mesa., Calif., killing two. He was on probation with a requirement to take Lithium.
In 2000, T.J. Solomon, 15, opened fire at Heritage High School in Conyers, Ga., while on a mix of antidepressants. Six were wounded.
The same year Seth Trickey of Gibson, Okla., 13, was on a variety of prescriptions when he opened fire on his middle-school class, injuring five.
Elizabeth Bush, 14, was on Prozac. She shot and wounded another student at Bishop Neumann High in Williamsport , Pa.
Jason Hoffman, 18, in 2001 was on Effexor and Celexa, both antidepressants, when he wounded two teachers at California's Granite Hills High School.
In Wahluke, Wash., Cory Baadsgaard, 16, took a rifle to his high schooland held 23 classmates hostage in 2001. He has been taking Paxil and Effexor.
In Tokyo in 2001, Mamoru Takuma, 37, went into a second-grade classroom and started stabbing students. He killed eight. He had taken 10 times his normal dosage of an antidepressant.
Duane Morrison, 53, shot and killed a girl at Platte Canyon High School in Colorado in 2006. Antidepressants later we re found in his vehicle.
In 2005, 16-year-old Native American Jeff Weise on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota was under the influence of the antidepressant Prozac when he shot and killed nine people and wounding five before committing suicide.
Another case involving a school-age youth – although not at a school – happened in 1986, when 14-year-old Rod Mathews of Canton, Mass., beat a classmate to death with a baseball bat while on Ritalin.
And just a few among the dozens of incidents cited, but not apparently related to schools:
William Cruse in 1987 was charged with killing six people in Palm Bay, Fla., after taking psychiatric drugs for "several years."
The same year, Bartley James Dobben killed his two young sons by throwing them into a 1,300-degree foundry ladle. He been on a "regimen" of psychiatric drugs.
Joseph T. WesBecker, 47, just a month after he began taking Prozac, shot 20 workers at Standard Gravure Corp. in Louisville, Ky., killing nine. Eli Lilly, which makes Prozac, later settled a lawsuit brought by survivors.
In 1991, 61-year-old Barbara Mortenson, on Prozac for two weeks, "cannibalized her 87-year-old mother …"
In 1992, Lynnwood Drake III, shot and killed six in San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay. Prozac and Valium were found in his system.
Sixteen-year-old Victor Brancaccio attacked and killed an 81-year-old woman, covered her corpse with red spray-paint. He was two months into a Zoloft regimen.
While on four medications including Prozac, Dr. Debora Green in 1995 set her Prairie Village, Mo., home on fire, killing her children, ages 6 and 13.
Kurt Danysh, 18, shot and killed his father in 1996, 17 days after his first dose of Prozac. "I didn't realize I did it until after it was done. … This might sound weird, but it felt like I had no control of what I was doing, like I was left there just holding a gun."
In 1998, GlaxoSmithKline, maker of Paxil, was ordered to pay $6.4 million to surviving family members after Donald Schnell, 60, just 48 hours after taking Paxil, flew into a rage and killed his wife, daughter and granddaughter.
The website also cites psychiatrist Chester M. Pierce, in a speech advocating for the treatment of children and youth.
"Every child in America entering school at the age of five is insane because he comes to school with certain allegiances to our founding fathers, towards our elected officials, towards his parents, towards a belief in a supernatural being, and towards the sovereignty of this nation as a separate entity. It's up to you as teachers to make all these sick children well – by creating the international child of the future," Pierce told a 1973 childhood seminar.
Breggin's conclusion that whatever mental manifestations were causing Cho's dangerous behavior, resulting in a professor asking for him to be removed from her class and two complaints of stalking, there was a solution.
"The answer to vengeful, violent people is not more mental health screening or more potent mental health interventions. Reliance on the whole range of this system from counseling to involuntary treatment failed. There is not a shred of scientific evidence that locking people up against their will or otherwise 'treating' them reduces violence. As we'll see, quite the opposite is true," he wrote. "So what was needed? Police intervention."
He wrote that "it's not politically correct to bring criminal charges against someone who is 'mentally ill' and it's not politically correct to prosecute him or to remove him from the campus. Yet that's what was needed to protect the students. Two known episodes of stalking, setting a fire, and his threatening behavior in class should have been more than enough for the university administration to bring charges against him and to send him off campus."
He continued with a warning, "And what about drugs for the treatment of violence? The FDA has not approved any medications for the control of violence because there are no such medications. Yes, it is possible to temporarily immobilize mind and body alike with a shot of an 'antipsychotic' drug like Haldol; but that only works as long as the person is virtually paralyzed and confined – and forced drugging invariably breeds more resentment.
"Instead of offering the promise of reducing violence, all psychiatric drugs carry the potential risk of driving the individual into violent madness. For example, both the newer antidepressants such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft and Celexa, and the antipsychotic drugs such as Risperdal and Zyprexa, cause a disorder caused akathisia – a terrible inner sensation of agitation accompanied by a compulsion to move about. Akathisia is known to drive people to suicide and to aggression."
He said he's been writing for more than 15 years about the capacity for psychiatric drugs to cause mayhem, murder and suicide, but it wasn't until 2005 when the FDA issued a warning that such drugs produce "anxiety, agitation, panic attacks …"
He said in the Columbine case, Harris "looks the most like Cho. Both were very emotionally disturbed in an extremely violent fashion for a prolonged period of time."
Carolyn Rude, chairwoman of Virginia Tech's English department, said Cho's writings were so disturbing he was referred to the school's counselors.
"Sometimes, in creative writing, people reveal things and you never know if it's creative or if they're describing things, if they're imagining things or just how real it might be," she said. "But we're all alert to not ignore things like this."
In a statement posted on the TeenScreen opposition site, Sidney Taurel of Eli Lilly noted that it would be "unreasonable" to expect "that there is such a thing as a risk-free drug."
Another website concerning the psychiatric drugs, called RitalinDeath, also documents some of these cases, as well as additional ones.
Dr. John Breeding concluded in a report shortly after Columbine that there were about five million school children now being given psychiatric drugs, and the number had been doubling every 10 years since the 1970s.
"This has got to be a cause for major alarm in all adults," he said. "The bottom line is that we are giving stronger and stronger psychiatric drugs to more and more children. Many of our children are taking mo re than one of these drugs at a time, and many of these drugs were never even tested and approved for children."
Over 21,000 signatures: http://www.petitiononline.com/TScreen/petition.html
TeenScreen - National Fraud video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfU9puZQKBY
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Fattening up the kids: the School Lunch program
Last week's "lunchbox" menu at ISD166 looked a lot like a trip to the food mall at the Minnesota State Fair: tacos, buttered corn, chili, chicken nuggets, corn dogs, french fries, muffins, cookies and cakes, fruits in sugary syrup. Nothing whole grain was on offer and the closest things to healthy foods were the ubiqitous milk (rgbh free? fat free? not), lettuce and tomatoes on the tacos, the carrot and celery sticks with the chili and cheese biscuits, and the juice or fruit with breakfast.
This week was distinguished from the usual fare only by the absence of macaroni, spaghetti, white buns and tater tots.
Yet with its usual myopia the MSM (main stream media to the innocent) has been kicking up a big fuss about healthy SNACKS for kids. Ho hum, sugary soft drinks are bad for you, yes; but is gingerbread cake any better? What about pancakes and bacon?
Get real, America. The fattening of kids has been going on steadily ever since the onset of the school lunch program where the USDA dumps excess commodities on the schools. Only lately it is much worse because the subsidies now go to produce white-flour products, high-fructose corn syrup, and fats from soybeans. Another piece of the puzzle is that most people really don't know anything about nutrition. If they cared, they would find out, despite the MSM's focus on the smallest piece of the problem so the big agribiz takeover of American diets is, like impeachment, "off the table."
True
Here's an excerpt from the New York Times article, "You are what you grow," which is also linked below.
A public-health researcher from Mars might legitimately wonder why a nation faced with what its surgeon general has called "an epidemic" of obesity would at the same time be in the business of subsidizing the production of high-fructose corn syrup. But such is the perversity of the farm bill: the nation's agricultural policies operate at cross-purposes with its public-health objectives. And the subsidies are only part of the problem.
The farm bill helps determine what sort of food your children will have for lunch in school tomorrow. The school-lunch program began at a time when the public-health problem ofAmerica's children was undernourishment, so feeding surplus agricultural commodities to kids seemed like a win-win strategy. Today the problem is overnutrition, but a school lunch lady trying to prepare healthful fresh food is apt to get dinged by U.S.D.A. inspectors for failing to serve enough calories; if she dishes up a lunch that includes chicken nuggets and Tater Tots, however, the inspector smiles and the reimbursements flow. The farm bill essentially treats our children as a human Disposall for all the unhealthful calories that the farm bill has encouraged American farmers to overproduce.
You are what you grow:
New York Times
This week was distinguished from the usual fare only by the absence of macaroni, spaghetti, white buns and tater tots.
Yet with its usual myopia the MSM (main stream media to the innocent) has been kicking up a big fuss about healthy SNACKS for kids. Ho hum, sugary soft drinks are bad for you, yes; but is gingerbread cake any better? What about pancakes and bacon?
Get real, America. The fattening of kids has been going on steadily ever since the onset of the school lunch program where the USDA dumps excess commodities on the schools. Only lately it is much worse because the subsidies now go to produce white-flour products, high-fructose corn syrup, and fats from soybeans. Another piece of the puzzle is that most people really don't know anything about nutrition. If they cared, they would find out, despite the MSM's focus on the smallest piece of the problem so the big agribiz takeover of American diets is, like impeachment, "off the table."
True
Here's an excerpt from the New York Times article, "You are what you grow," which is also linked below.
A public-health researcher from Mars might legitimately wonder why a nation faced with what its surgeon general has called "an epidemic" of obesity would at the same time be in the business of subsidizing the production of high-fructose corn syrup. But such is the perversity of the farm bill: the nation's agricultural policies operate at cross-purposes with its public-health objectives. And the subsidies are only part of the problem.
The farm bill helps determine what sort of food your children will have for lunch in school tomorrow. The school-lunch program began at a time when the public-health problem ofAmerica's children was undernourishment, so feeding surplus agricultural commodities to kids seemed like a win-win strategy. Today the problem is overnutrition, but a school lunch lady trying to prepare healthful fresh food is apt to get dinged by U.S.D.A. inspectors for failing to serve enough calories; if she dishes up a lunch that includes chicken nuggets and Tater Tots, however, the inspector smiles and the reimbursements flow. The farm bill essentially treats our children as a human Disposall for all the unhealthful calories that the farm bill has encouraged American farmers to overproduce.
You are what you grow:
New York Times
Friday, April 06, 2007
TeenScreen Petition posted by Bev Miller
Dear TRUE:
If anyone has not yet signed the TeenScreen petition please go to http://www.petitiononline.com/TScreen/petition.html and add your name to the now 20,737 signatures and growing!
The pressure we created at the state Capitol on TeenScreen has caused it to go "underground". Congratulations on making such a big impact! Here's an example of what one Representative had to say:
Minnesota Representative Olson: "Given the volume of e-mails that I've received, on this issue, more than any other issue in this session and the fact that I've not received any in support and I've had a number of psychiatric professionals and psychologists contact me with their concerns about this program, I think it's very important that we rule out any of these kinds of tools."
TeenScreen is now considered so controversial that it has now been renamed: It is now being called a "suicide prevention tool" and is located in HF 6, HF 6 is a large education funding bill, and the part we are opposed to is just one small portion of the bill. We don't want to defeat the entire bill, just the "suicide prevention tool". The next step for this bill is the House floor for a vote, after Easter. Therefore it is essential that legislators have an email box full of emails when they return. Send an email as soon as you can, but definitely by Monday morning.
1. Send an email to your Minnesota Representative. If you cannot remember who it is, go to http://geo.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/districts/start.html and type in your address. The first person listed is the person you want to write to, and their email address will be right there for you, as well as their phone number. Send a bcc to rest of the Representatives in the House (see email addresses below).
2. Ask them to vote in favor of an amendment that will remove suicide prevention tools from the Safe Schools Levy (tax) in House File 6. Tell them that this is just a devious attempt to fund the controversial TeenScreen program that identifies too many children as being at risk of suicide, leading to the unnecessary drugging of kids. These drugs can cause suicidal and homicidal reactions in kids, which will make our schools MUCH LESS SAFE. Ask for a response. Include your home address so they know you are from Minnesota.
We've driven TeenScreen underground - now it's time to drive them completely out of Minnesota.
Bev Miller
Grand Marais
Minnesota House Reps. email addresses:
rep.jim.abeler@house.mn, rep.bruce.anderson@house.mn, rep.sarah.anderson@house.mn, rep.tom.anzelc@house.mn, rep.joe.atkins@house.mn, rep.mike.beard@house.mn, rep.john.benson@house.mn, rep.john.berns@house.mn, rep.karla.bigham@house.mn, rep.david.bly@house.mn, rep.laura.brod@house.mn, rep.robin.brown@house.mn, rep.kathy.brynaert@house.mn, rep.mark.buesgens@house.mn, rep.julie.bunn@house.mn, rep.lyndon.carlson@house.mn, rep.karen.clark@house.mn, rep.tony.cornish@house.mn, rep.jim.davnie@house.mn, rep.matt.dean@house.mn, rep.chris.delaforest@house.mn, rep.randy.demmer@house.mn, rep.bob.dettmer@house.mn, rep.david.dill@house.mn, rep.denise.dittrich@house.mn, rep.augustine.dominguez@house.mn, rep.al.doty@house.mn, rep.rob.eastlund@house.mn, rep.kent.eken@house.mn, rep.tom.emmer@house.mn, rep.ron.erhardt@house.mn, rep.sondra.erickson@house.mn, rep.tim.faust@house.mn, rep.brad.finstad@house.mn, rep.patti.fritz@house.mn, rep.paul.gardner@house.mn, rep.pat.garofalo@house.mn, rep.steve.gottwalt@house.mn, rep.bob.gunther@house.mn, rep.tom.hackbarth@house.mn, rep.rod.hamilton@house.mn, rep.rick.hansen@house.mn, rep.alice.hausman@house.mn, rep.larry.haws@house.mn, rep.bud.heidgerken@house.mn, rep.debra.hilstrom@house.mn, rep.bill.hilty@house.mn, rep.maryliz.holberg@house.mn, rep.joe.hoppe@house.mn, rep.frank.hornstein@house.mn, rep.melissa.hortman@house.mn, rep.larry.hosch@house.mn, rep.larry.howes@house.mn, rep.thomas.huntley@house.mn, rep.mike.jaros@house.mn, rep.sheldon.johnson@house.mn, rep.al.juhnke@house.mn, rep.phyllis.kahn@house.mn, rep.jeremy.kalin@house.mn, rep.margaret.kelliher@house.mn, rep.kate.knuth@house.mn, rep.lyle.koenen@house.mn, rep.paul.kohls@house.mn, rep.scott.kranz@house.mn, rep.carolyn.laine@house.mn, rep.morrie.lanning@house.mn, rep.ann.lenczewski@house.mn, rep.john.lesch@house.mn, rep.tina.liebling@house.mn, rep.bernie.lieder@house.mn, rep.leon.lillie@house.mn, rep.diane.loeffler @house.mn, rep.shelley.madore@house.mn, rep.doug.magnus@house.mn, rep.tim.mahoney@house.mn, rep.carlos.mariani@house.mn, rep.paul.marquart@house.mn, rep.sandra.masin@house.mn, rep.carol.mcfarlane@house.mn, rep.denny.mcnamara@house.mn, rep.frank.moe@house.mn, rep.will.morgan@house.mn, rep.terry.morrow@house.mn, rep.joe.mullery@house.mn, rep.erin.murphy@house.mn, rep.mary.murphy@house.mn, rep.michael.nelson@house.mn, rep.bud.nornes@house.mn, rep.kim.norton@house.mn, rep.dave.olin@house.mn, rep.mark.olson@house.mn, rep.maryellen.otremba@house.mn, rep.dennis.ozment@house.mn, rep.erik.paulsen@house.mn, rep.michael.paymar@house.mn, rep.gene.pelowski@house.mn, rep.joyce.peppin@house.mn, rep.aaron.peterson@house.mn, rep.neil.peterson@house.mn, rep.sandra.peterson@house.mn, rep.jeanne.poppe@house.mn, rep.tom.rukavina@house.mn, rep.connie.ruth@house.mn, rep.maria.ruud@house.mn, rep.brita.sailer@house.mn, rep.bev.scalze@house.mn, rep.marty.seifert@house.mn, rep.tony.sertich@house.mn, rep.dan.severson@house.mn, rep.ron.shimanski@house.mn, rep.steve.simon@house.mn, rep.dean.simpson@house.mn, rep.nora.slawik@house.mn, rep.linda.slocum@house.mn, rep.steve.smith@house.mn, rep.loren.solberg@house.mn, rep.steve.sviggum@house.mn, rep.marsha.swails@house.mn, rep.cy.thao@house.mn, rep.paul.thissen@house.mn, rep.tom.tillberry@house.mn, rep.kathy.tingelstad@house.mn, rep.ken.tschumper@house.mn, rep.dean.urdahl@house.mn, rep.jean.wagenius@house.mn, rep.neva.walker@house.mn, rep.john.ward@house.mn, rep.lynn.wardlow@house.mn, rep.andy.welti@house.mn, rep.torrey.westrom@house.mn, rep.ryan.winkler@house.mn, rep.sandy.wollschlager@house.mn, rep.kurt.zellers@house.mn
If anyone has not yet signed the TeenScreen petition please go to http://www.petitiononline.com/TScreen/petition.html and add your name to the now 20,737 signatures and growing!
The pressure we created at the state Capitol on TeenScreen has caused it to go "underground". Congratulations on making such a big impact! Here's an example of what one Representative had to say:
Minnesota Representative Olson: "Given the volume of e-mails that I've received, on this issue, more than any other issue in this session and the fact that I've not received any in support and I've had a number of psychiatric professionals and psychologists contact me with their concerns about this program, I think it's very important that we rule out any of these kinds of tools."
TeenScreen is now considered so controversial that it has now been renamed: It is now being called a "suicide prevention tool" and is located in HF 6, HF 6 is a large education funding bill, and the part we are opposed to is just one small portion of the bill. We don't want to defeat the entire bill, just the "suicide prevention tool". The next step for this bill is the House floor for a vote, after Easter. Therefore it is essential that legislators have an email box full of emails when they return. Send an email as soon as you can, but definitely by Monday morning.
1. Send an email to your Minnesota Representative. If you cannot remember who it is, go to http://geo.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/districts/start.html and type in your address. The first person listed is the person you want to write to, and their email address will be right there for you, as well as their phone number. Send a bcc to rest of the Representatives in the House (see email addresses below).
2. Ask them to vote in favor of an amendment that will remove suicide prevention tools from the Safe Schools Levy (tax) in House File 6. Tell them that this is just a devious attempt to fund the controversial TeenScreen program that identifies too many children as being at risk of suicide, leading to the unnecessary drugging of kids. These drugs can cause suicidal and homicidal reactions in kids, which will make our schools MUCH LESS SAFE. Ask for a response. Include your home address so they know you are from Minnesota.
We've driven TeenScreen underground - now it's time to drive them completely out of Minnesota.
Bev Miller
Grand Marais
Minnesota House Reps. email addresses:
rep.jim.abeler@house.mn, rep.bruce.anderson@house.mn, rep.sarah.anderson@house.mn, rep.tom.anzelc@house.mn, rep.joe.atkins@house.mn, rep.mike.beard@house.mn, rep.john.benson@house.mn, rep.john.berns@house.mn, rep.karla.bigham@house.mn, rep.david.bly@house.mn, rep.laura.brod@house.mn, rep.robin.brown@house.mn, rep.kathy.brynaert@house.mn, rep.mark.buesgens@house.mn, rep.julie.bunn@house.mn, rep.lyndon.carlson@house.mn, rep.karen.clark@house.mn, rep.tony.cornish@house.mn, rep.jim.davnie@house.mn, rep.matt.dean@house.mn, rep.chris.delaforest@house.mn, rep.randy.demmer@house.mn, rep.bob.dettmer@house.mn, rep.david.dill@house.mn, rep.denise.dittrich@house.mn, rep.augustine.dominguez@house.mn, rep.al.doty@house.mn, rep.rob.eastlund@house.mn, rep.kent.eken@house.mn, rep.tom.emmer@house.mn, rep.ron.erhardt@house.mn, rep.sondra.erickson@house.mn, rep.tim.faust@house.mn, rep.brad.finstad@house.mn, rep.patti.fritz@house.mn, rep.paul.gardner@house.mn, rep.pat.garofalo@house.mn, rep.steve.gottwalt@house.mn, rep.bob.gunther@house.mn, rep.tom.hackbarth@house.mn, rep.rod.hamilton@house.mn, rep.rick.hansen@house.mn, rep.alice.hausman@house.mn, rep.larry.haws@house.mn, rep.bud.heidgerken@house.mn, rep.debra.hilstrom@house.mn, rep.bill.hilty@house.mn, rep.maryliz.holberg@house.mn, rep.joe.hoppe@house.mn, rep.frank.hornstein@house.mn, rep.melissa.hortman@house.mn, rep.larry.hosch@house.mn, rep.larry.howes@house.mn, rep.thomas.huntley@house.mn, rep.mike.jaros@house.mn, rep.sheldon.johnson@house.mn, rep.al.juhnke@house.mn, rep.phyllis.kahn@house.mn, rep.jeremy.kalin@house.mn, rep.margaret.kelliher@house.mn, rep.kate.knuth@house.mn, rep.lyle.koenen@house.mn, rep.paul.kohls@house.mn, rep.scott.kranz@house.mn, rep.carolyn.laine@house.mn, rep.morrie.lanning@house.mn, rep.ann.lenczewski@house.mn, rep.john.lesch@house.mn, rep.tina.liebling@house.mn, rep.bernie.lieder@house.mn, rep.leon.lillie@house.mn, rep.diane.loeffler @house.mn, rep.shelley.madore@house.mn, rep.doug.magnus@house.mn, rep.tim.mahoney@house.mn, rep.carlos.mariani@house.mn, rep.paul.marquart@house.mn, rep.sandra.masin@house.mn, rep.carol.mcfarlane@house.mn, rep.denny.mcnamara@house.mn, rep.frank.moe@house.mn, rep.will.morgan@house.mn, rep.terry.morrow@house.mn, rep.joe.mullery@house.mn, rep.erin.murphy@house.mn, rep.mary.murphy@house.mn, rep.michael.nelson@house.mn, rep.bud.nornes@house.mn, rep.kim.norton@house.mn, rep.dave.olin@house.mn, rep.mark.olson@house.mn, rep.maryellen.otremba@house.mn, rep.dennis.ozment@house.mn, rep.erik.paulsen@house.mn, rep.michael.paymar@house.mn, rep.gene.pelowski@house.mn, rep.joyce.peppin@house.mn, rep.aaron.peterson@house.mn, rep.neil.peterson@house.mn, rep.sandra.peterson@house.mn, rep.jeanne.poppe@house.mn, rep.tom.rukavina@house.mn, rep.connie.ruth@house.mn, rep.maria.ruud@house.mn, rep.brita.sailer@house.mn, rep.bev.scalze@house.mn, rep.marty.seifert@house.mn, rep.tony.sertich@house.mn, rep.dan.severson@house.mn, rep.ron.shimanski@house.mn, rep.steve.simon@house.mn, rep.dean.simpson@house.mn, rep.nora.slawik@house.mn, rep.linda.slocum@house.mn, rep.steve.smith@house.mn, rep.loren.solberg@house.mn, rep.steve.sviggum@house.mn, rep.marsha.swails@house.mn, rep.cy.thao@house.mn, rep.paul.thissen@house.mn, rep.tom.tillberry@house.mn, rep.kathy.tingelstad@house.mn, rep.ken.tschumper@house.mn, rep.dean.urdahl@house.mn, rep.jean.wagenius@house.mn, rep.neva.walker@house.mn, rep.john.ward@house.mn, rep.lynn.wardlow@house.mn, rep.andy.welti@house.mn, rep.torrey.westrom@house.mn, rep.ryan.winkler@house.mn, rep.sandy.wollschlager@house.mn, rep.kurt.zellers@house.mn
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
TeenScreen: A National Fraud
Dear True--- please post these links on True North and the attached URGENT articles and call to arms here in Minnesota and nationwide. My editorial that printed in the duluth trib on monday is below as is another one from St. Cloud on what's happening elsewhere. It is crucial that we stop this from a human rights standpoint. THANK YOU.
Also, Let's get folks to sign the teenscreen petition. TeenScreen Petition: Over 20,500 signatures: http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?TScreen
Video: TeenScreen - A National Fraud: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfU9puZQKBY__________________________________________________
Please get the word out to all your Minnesota friends about the legislation to fund TeenScreen / mental health screening of kids there.
Minnesota legislators are considering a bill to fund TeenScreen to the tune of 2.2 million dollars. Please contact everyone you know so they can contact everyone they know and in this way we may be able to alert a bunch of Minnesota folks. Please do this now.
Otherwise, you may have TeenScreen at your own doorstep next.
Duluth News Tribune (Minnesota)
April 02, 2007
Program to prevent teen suicide misguided
I am a parent concerned about a new program being considered by the Minnesota Legislature, the so-called “TeenScreen” suicide-prevention program (HF 196 and SF 789).
While promoted as a suicide-prevention program, its implementation likely would not prevent suicides, but actually could result in more suicides and also in the mislabeling of children with mental disorders and in the placement of children on dangerous, mind-altering psychiatric drugs.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has found no evidence that screening for suicide risk reduces suicide attempts or mortality. On that score, funding TeenScreen would be a waste of state tax dollars.
Most important, those found to be at risk after an initial screening would be referred to a psychiatrist. This is particularly distressing as the data released by a survey, printed in JAM Academy Adolescent Psychiatry in 2002, showed that nine of 10 children who see a psychiatrist are given psychiatric drugs. This is most dangerous as the FDA has found that antidepressants play a causal role in pediatric suicides, and that children given psychiatric drugs are twice as likely to commit suicide as those given a placebo. Witness the fact that all school shootings have been linked to psychiatric drugs. As a result, the FDA has ordered drug manufacturers to place a black-box warning on antidepressant labels. The black-box warning is the most serious measure the FDA can take regarding a prescription medication, short of an outright ban.
While preventing suicide is a noble goal and any suicide is a needless loss, TeenScreen, drugs and psychiatrists are not the mechanisms to achieve that aim.
Bev Miller
Grand Marais
Please read the below and then send an e-mail to the Chairman of the Montana Senate Finance and Claims Committee and bcc the rest of the committee members. Tell them NO on Resolution 27 which they will be hearing tomorrow, April 5, 2007. You can find the resolution here: http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2007/billhtml/SJ0027.htm You could even send them the link to the BMJ article below.
The resolution simply is an attempt to to implement the plan of the "New Freedom Commission" which recommended TeenScreen and also TMAP (read below) The commission recommended comprehensive mental health screening for "consumers of all ages," including preschool children. Schools, wrote the commission, are in a key position to screen our 52 million students. Many states are now working on the recommendations of the NFC to "transform" the mental health system. You can read more about the NFC here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Freedom_Commission_on_Mental_Health
Any questions, comments or coordination, please contact Steve Pearce cchrseattle@aol.com
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/328/7454/1458
British Medical Journal
19 June 2004
Bush plans to screen whole US population for mental illness
Jeanne Lenzer
New York
A sweeping mental health initiative will be unveiled by President George W Bush in July. The plan promises to integrate mentally ill patients fully into the community by providing "services in the community, rather than institutions," according to a March 2004 progress report entitled New Freedom Initiative (www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/newfreedom/toc-2004.html). While some praise the plan's goals, others say it protects the profits of drug companies at the expense of the public.
Bush established the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health in April 2002 to conduct a "comprehensive study of the United States mental health service delivery system." The commission issued its recommendations in July 2003. Bush instructed more than 25 federal agencies to develop an implementation plan based on those recommendations.
The president's commission found that "despite their prevalence, mental disorders often go undiagnosed" and recommended comprehensive mental health screening for "consumers of all ages," including preschool children. According to the commission, "Each year, young children are expelled from preschools and childcare facilities for severely disruptive behaviours and emotional disorders." Schools, wrote the commission, are in a "key position" to screen the 52 million students and 6 million adults who work at the schools.
The commission also recommended "Linkage [of screening] with treatment and supports" including "state-of-the-art treatments" using "specific medications for specific conditions." The commission commended the Texas Medication Algorithm Project (TMAP) as a "model" medication treatment plan that "illustrates an evidence-based practice that results in better consumer outcomes."
Dr Darrel Regier, director of research at the American Psychiatric Association (APA), lauded the president's initiative and the Texas project model saying, "What's nice about TMAP is that this is a logical plan based on efficacy data from clinical trials."
He said the association has called for increased funding for implementation of the overall plan.
But the Texas project, which promotes the use of newer, more expensive antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs, sparked off controversy when Allen Jones, an employee of the Pennsylvania Office of the Inspector General, revealed that key officials with influence over the medication plan in his state received money and perks from drug companies with a stake in the medication algorithm (15 May, p1153). He was sacked this week for speaking to the BMJ and the New York Times.
The Texas project 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. The project was funded by a Robert Wood Johnson grant—and by several drug companies.
Mr Jones told the BMJ that the same "political/pharmaceutical alliance" that generated the Texas project was behind the recommendations of the New Freedom Commission, which, according to his whistleblower report, 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" (http://psychrights.org/Drugs/AllenJonesTMAPJanuary20.pdf).
Larry D Sasich, research associate with Public Citizen in Washington, DC, told the BMJ that studies in both the United States and Great Britain suggest that "using the older drugs first makes sense. There's nothing in the labeling of the newer atypical antipsychotic drugs that suggests they are superior in efficacy to haloperidol [an older "typical" antipsychotic]. There has to be an enormous amount of unnecessary expenditures for the newer drugs."
Drug companies have contributed three times more to the campaign of George Bush, seen here campaigning in Florida, than to that of his rival John Kerry
Olanzapine (trade name Zyprexa), one of the atypical antipsychotic drugs recommended as a first line drug in the Texas algorithm, grossed $4.28bn (£2.35bn; 3.56bn) worldwide in 2003 and is Eli Lilly's top selling drug. A 2003 New York Times article by Gardiner Harris reported that 70% of olanzapine sales are paid for by government agencies, such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Eli Lilly, manufacturer of olanzapine, has multiple ties to the Bush administration. George Bush Sr was a member of Lilly's board of directors and Bush Jr appointed Lilly's chief executive officer, Sidney Taurel, to a seat on the Homeland Security Council. Lilly made $1.6m in political contributions in 2000—82% of which went to Bush and the Republican Party.
Jones points out that the companies that helped to start up the Texas project have been, and still are, big contributors to the election funds of George W Bush. In addition, some members of the New Freedom Commission have served on advisory boards for these same companies, while others have direct ties to the Texas Medication Algorithm Project.
Bush was the governor of Texas during the development of the Texas project, and, during his 2000 presidential campaign, he boasted of his support for the project and the fact that the legislation he passed expanded Medicaid coverage of psychotropic drugs.
Bush is the clear front runner when it comes to drug company contributions. According to the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP), manufacturers of drugs and health products have contributed $764 274 to the 2004 Bush campaign through their political action committees and employees—far outstripping the $149 400 given to his chief rival, John Kerry, by 26 April.
Drug companies have fared exceedingly well under the Bush administration, according to the centre's spokesperson, Steven Weiss.
The commission's recommendation for increased screening has also been questioned. Robert Whitaker, journalist and author of Mad in America, says that while increased screening "may seem defensible," it could also be seen as "fishing for customers," and that exorbitant spending on new drugs "robs from other forms of care such as job training and shelter programmes."
But Dr Graham Emslie, who helped develop the Texas project, 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."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tell them NO on Resolution 27
Senator Trudi Schmidt TRUDI@IN-TCH.COM
Commitee members:
billtash@msn.com, COONEYEMAIL@AOL.COM, COREYSTAPLETON@BRESNAN.NET, CWILLIAMS@MONTANADSL.NET, DAVEEW@GMAIL.COM, DAVELEWISD@AOL.COM, GALLUS@AWARE-INC.ORG, GBARKUS@DADCO.COM, HANSEN_KENNETH@EMAIL.COM, LLSD22@YAHOO.COM, r_hawks@imt.net, RICKLAIBLE@AOL.COM, SCOBB@MT.GOV, SD50@MONTANA.COM, SENATORJOHN@BRESNAN.NET, SENBALES@WBACCESS.NET
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
St. Cloud Times (Minnesota)
Be wary of TeenScreen legislation
April 03. 2007
If you have not heard about TeenScreen, here is a crash course.
TeenScreen is a program quietly making its way through the state Capitol. Nationwide, it is known as a highly controversial suicide screening program. Essentially, it is a test given to high school students with very vague questions like, “Do you sometimes feel depressed?”
Responses to these questions then lead to psychiatric evaluations, which often leads to prescription drugs.
This is a program with a clear agenda: Put more kids on prescription drugs. Research shows that screening for suicide, while a noble cause, has a less than impressive success rate. Caught in the crossfire are thousands of kids who will suffer the effects of a “false positive” score. According to one study published in the January 2004 edition of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, for every 16 students correctly identified by TeenScreen, 84 were falsely labeled.
Don’t be fooled by the well-intentioned but misguided efforts of the TeenScreen promoters.
Jason Krueger
Sauk Rapids
Also, Let's get folks to sign the teenscreen petition. TeenScreen Petition: Over 20,500 signatures: http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?TScreen
Video: TeenScreen - A National Fraud: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfU9puZQKBY__________________________________________________
Please get the word out to all your Minnesota friends about the legislation to fund TeenScreen / mental health screening of kids there.
Minnesota legislators are considering a bill to fund TeenScreen to the tune of 2.2 million dollars. Please contact everyone you know so they can contact everyone they know and in this way we may be able to alert a bunch of Minnesota folks. Please do this now.
Otherwise, you may have TeenScreen at your own doorstep next.
Duluth News Tribune (Minnesota)
April 02, 2007
Program to prevent teen suicide misguided
I am a parent concerned about a new program being considered by the Minnesota Legislature, the so-called “TeenScreen” suicide-prevention program (HF 196 and SF 789).
While promoted as a suicide-prevention program, its implementation likely would not prevent suicides, but actually could result in more suicides and also in the mislabeling of children with mental disorders and in the placement of children on dangerous, mind-altering psychiatric drugs.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has found no evidence that screening for suicide risk reduces suicide attempts or mortality. On that score, funding TeenScreen would be a waste of state tax dollars.
Most important, those found to be at risk after an initial screening would be referred to a psychiatrist. This is particularly distressing as the data released by a survey, printed in JAM Academy Adolescent Psychiatry in 2002, showed that nine of 10 children who see a psychiatrist are given psychiatric drugs. This is most dangerous as the FDA has found that antidepressants play a causal role in pediatric suicides, and that children given psychiatric drugs are twice as likely to commit suicide as those given a placebo. Witness the fact that all school shootings have been linked to psychiatric drugs. As a result, the FDA has ordered drug manufacturers to place a black-box warning on antidepressant labels. The black-box warning is the most serious measure the FDA can take regarding a prescription medication, short of an outright ban.
While preventing suicide is a noble goal and any suicide is a needless loss, TeenScreen, drugs and psychiatrists are not the mechanisms to achieve that aim.
Bev Miller
Grand Marais
Please read the below and then send an e-mail to the Chairman of the Montana Senate Finance and Claims Committee and bcc the rest of the committee members. Tell them NO on Resolution 27 which they will be hearing tomorrow, April 5, 2007. You can find the resolution here: http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2007/billhtml/SJ0027.htm You could even send them the link to the BMJ article below.
The resolution simply is an attempt to to implement the plan of the "New Freedom Commission" which recommended TeenScreen and also TMAP (read below) The commission recommended comprehensive mental health screening for "consumers of all ages," including preschool children. Schools, wrote the commission, are in a key position to screen our 52 million students. Many states are now working on the recommendations of the NFC to "transform" the mental health system. You can read more about the NFC here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Freedom_Commission_on_Mental_Health
Any questions, comments or coordination, please contact Steve Pearce cchrseattle@aol.com
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/328/7454/1458
British Medical Journal
19 June 2004
Bush plans to screen whole US population for mental illness
Jeanne Lenzer
New York
A sweeping mental health initiative will be unveiled by President George W Bush in July. The plan promises to integrate mentally ill patients fully into the community by providing "services in the community, rather than institutions," according to a March 2004 progress report entitled New Freedom Initiative (www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/newfreedom/toc-2004.html). While some praise the plan's goals, others say it protects the profits of drug companies at the expense of the public.
Bush established the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health in April 2002 to conduct a "comprehensive study of the United States mental health service delivery system." The commission issued its recommendations in July 2003. Bush instructed more than 25 federal agencies to develop an implementation plan based on those recommendations.
The president's commission found that "despite their prevalence, mental disorders often go undiagnosed" and recommended comprehensive mental health screening for "consumers of all ages," including preschool children. According to the commission, "Each year, young children are expelled from preschools and childcare facilities for severely disruptive behaviours and emotional disorders." Schools, wrote the commission, are in a "key position" to screen the 52 million students and 6 million adults who work at the schools.
The commission also recommended "Linkage [of screening] with treatment and supports" including "state-of-the-art treatments" using "specific medications for specific conditions." The commission commended the Texas Medication Algorithm Project (TMAP) as a "model" medication treatment plan that "illustrates an evidence-based practice that results in better consumer outcomes."
Dr Darrel Regier, director of research at the American Psychiatric Association (APA), lauded the president's initiative and the Texas project model saying, "What's nice about TMAP is that this is a logical plan based on efficacy data from clinical trials."
He said the association has called for increased funding for implementation of the overall plan.
But the Texas project, which promotes the use of newer, more expensive antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs, sparked off controversy when Allen Jones, an employee of the Pennsylvania Office of the Inspector General, revealed that key officials with influence over the medication plan in his state received money and perks from drug companies with a stake in the medication algorithm (15 May, p1153). He was sacked this week for speaking to the BMJ and the New York Times.
The Texas project 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. The project was funded by a Robert Wood Johnson grant—and by several drug companies.
Mr Jones told the BMJ that the same "political/pharmaceutical alliance" that generated the Texas project was behind the recommendations of the New Freedom Commission, which, according to his whistleblower report, 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" (http://psychrights.org/Drugs/AllenJonesTMAPJanuary20.pdf).
Larry D Sasich, research associate with Public Citizen in Washington, DC, told the BMJ that studies in both the United States and Great Britain suggest that "using the older drugs first makes sense. There's nothing in the labeling of the newer atypical antipsychotic drugs that suggests they are superior in efficacy to haloperidol [an older "typical" antipsychotic]. There has to be an enormous amount of unnecessary expenditures for the newer drugs."
Drug companies have contributed three times more to the campaign of George Bush, seen here campaigning in Florida, than to that of his rival John Kerry
Olanzapine (trade name Zyprexa), one of the atypical antipsychotic drugs recommended as a first line drug in the Texas algorithm, grossed $4.28bn (£2.35bn; 3.56bn) worldwide in 2003 and is Eli Lilly's top selling drug. A 2003 New York Times article by Gardiner Harris reported that 70% of olanzapine sales are paid for by government agencies, such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Eli Lilly, manufacturer of olanzapine, has multiple ties to the Bush administration. George Bush Sr was a member of Lilly's board of directors and Bush Jr appointed Lilly's chief executive officer, Sidney Taurel, to a seat on the Homeland Security Council. Lilly made $1.6m in political contributions in 2000—82% of which went to Bush and the Republican Party.
Jones points out that the companies that helped to start up the Texas project have been, and still are, big contributors to the election funds of George W Bush. In addition, some members of the New Freedom Commission have served on advisory boards for these same companies, while others have direct ties to the Texas Medication Algorithm Project.
Bush was the governor of Texas during the development of the Texas project, and, during his 2000 presidential campaign, he boasted of his support for the project and the fact that the legislation he passed expanded Medicaid coverage of psychotropic drugs.
Bush is the clear front runner when it comes to drug company contributions. According to the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP), manufacturers of drugs and health products have contributed $764 274 to the 2004 Bush campaign through their political action committees and employees—far outstripping the $149 400 given to his chief rival, John Kerry, by 26 April.
Drug companies have fared exceedingly well under the Bush administration, according to the centre's spokesperson, Steven Weiss.
The commission's recommendation for increased screening has also been questioned. Robert Whitaker, journalist and author of Mad in America, says that while increased screening "may seem defensible," it could also be seen as "fishing for customers," and that exorbitant spending on new drugs "robs from other forms of care such as job training and shelter programmes."
But Dr Graham Emslie, who helped develop the Texas project, 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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Tell them NO on Resolution 27
Senator Trudi Schmidt TRUDI@IN-TCH.COM
Commitee members:
billtash@msn.com, COONEYEMAIL@AOL.COM, COREYSTAPLETON@BRESNAN.NET, CWILLIAMS@MONTANADSL.NET, DAVEEW@GMAIL.COM, DAVELEWISD@AOL.COM, GALLUS@AWARE-INC.ORG, GBARKUS@DADCO.COM, HANSEN_KENNETH@EMAIL.COM, LLSD22@YAHOO.COM, r_hawks@imt.net, RICKLAIBLE@AOL.COM, SCOBB@MT.GOV, SD50@MONTANA.COM, SENATORJOHN@BRESNAN.NET, SENBALES@WBACCESS.NET
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St. Cloud Times (Minnesota)
Be wary of TeenScreen legislation
April 03. 2007
If you have not heard about TeenScreen, here is a crash course.
TeenScreen is a program quietly making its way through the state Capitol. Nationwide, it is known as a highly controversial suicide screening program. Essentially, it is a test given to high school students with very vague questions like, “Do you sometimes feel depressed?”
Responses to these questions then lead to psychiatric evaluations, which often leads to prescription drugs.
This is a program with a clear agenda: Put more kids on prescription drugs. Research shows that screening for suicide, while a noble cause, has a less than impressive success rate. Caught in the crossfire are thousands of kids who will suffer the effects of a “false positive” score. According to one study published in the January 2004 edition of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, for every 16 students correctly identified by TeenScreen, 84 were falsely labeled.
Don’t be fooled by the well-intentioned but misguided efforts of the TeenScreen promoters.
Jason Krueger
Sauk Rapids
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