Just say yes


iconI don't have kids, but I still think this is one of the scariest things I've seen in a while.

In February, 12-year-old Daniel began displaying some symptoms that his father suspected were related to the use of Ritalin.

"He was losing weight, wasn't sleeping, wasn't eating," Taylor told ABC News affiliate KOAT-TV in New Mexico. "[He] just wasn't Daniel."

So Taylor took Daniel off Ritalin, against his doctor's wishes. And though Taylor noticed Daniel was sleeping better and his appetite had returned, his teachers complained about the return of his disruptive behavior. Daniel seemed unable to sit still and was inattentive. His teachers ultimately learned that he was no longer taking Ritalin.

School officials reported Daniel's parents to New Mexico's Department of Children, Youth and Families. Then a detective and social worker made a home visit.

"The detective told me if I did not medicate my son, I would be arrested for child abuse and neglect," Taylor said. [...]

"People can be charged with child abuse, child neglect or various other crimes involving a child," he said.

It's bad enough that government schools are coercing parents into drugging their kids. At least then you have a choice of private school or home schooling. But now they're making house calls and telling parents they can face criminal charges for keeping their kids off mind altering drugs.


Comments

As a commenter at Medpundit pointed out, we don't know the whole story - such as whether the father consulted his own physician: but as she responded, Ritalin is effectively being prescribed by grade-school teachers, she has seen it in her own practice, and that is just plain wrong.

Posted by: John Anderson at June 10, 2004 9:09 AM

I am not surprised. This is the state that removed a young girl from her family because she was overweight--and 50% taller. link.
I also read in Reason magazine (I believe) that when landscaping your yard you'd best be familiar with New Mexico environmental laws. Plants that are not indigenous to New Mexico,i.e. Canadian Maple, may get you in trouble with state agencies. And this from a state that has as close to a Libertarian governor as you'll find--at that time it was Gary Johnson.

Posted by: tom scott at June 15, 2004 12:18 AM

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