Pharmaceuticals Given Maliciously to Children Considered Abused
Posted on August 6, 2010Jokes among traveling families include the use of Benadryl to quiet the children for a long car ride. While this may seem like innocent banter, the true use of drugs and medications to control or abuse a child do happen and it is a form of child abuse, according to a recent Science Daily report.
A study on this particular subject is set to be published in the Journal of Pediatrics. In this study, researchers received cases of pharmaceutical abuse reported to the National Poison Data System, which included reports of instances where alcohol, painkillers, cough and cold medicines, sedatives and sleeping pills and antipsychotic medications were used maliciously.
More than 1,400 cases were studied in this project and nearly 14 percent concluded with moderate to major consequences. Some even included death. Of the children abused, nearly half were exposed to a minimum of one sedative. Motives for use can include punishment, amusement or a desire to seek respite from the responsibilities of childcare.
As the lead researcher noted, the danger associated with such use is criminal. In fact, he believes any time a pharmaceutical is administered through malicious intent; it should be considered child abuse. Doctors are encouraged to watch for this type of mistreatment and parents are warned that the misuse of pharmaceuticals can have dire results, including death.
He recommends that pediatricians and other physicians scan for specific drugs when examining a child and even suggests that parents be informed of the risks to their children.
