According to the report, prescriptions for psychotropic drugs to children are exploding

Are we prescribing too many psychoactive drugs to our children? This is highlighted in a worrying report by the High Council for Families, Children and Aging (HCFA) entitled “When children are bad, how to help them?“. The contents of this much-anticipated report have been revealed Parisianwhich should be published at the beginning of the week, but it Le Figaro The result is alarming to say the least. Faced with an increase in depression and psychological disorders among the youngest, prescriptions for psychotropic drugs are too high and sometimes too high.

In a 2007 note, the Haute Autorité de Santé defines psychotropic drugs as “drugs“having”the ability to alter brain activity by decreasing or stimulating it“in particular,on alertness and mood“. However, their consumption is quite simpledoublein ten-year-old children, the report states. 5% of the French pediatric population will now be affected, i.e. one in every 20 children.higher or even significantly higher than the average set at the European level“, – informs the HCFA. Specifically, according to health insurance data, the use of psychotropic drugs among young adults for antidepressants and normostimulants has increased by 179%; 148% for psychotropic stimulants; 114% for antipsychotics; 35% for hypnotics and anxiolytics between 2010 and 2021. A trend that is far from “isolated cases“, touch “tens of thousands of children“.

The Scissors Effect: More Depressive Disorders, Less Care

How is it possible that these treatments, which are far from trivial, are being prescribed more and more early? Are French people in their twenties particularly prone to depression? Or should this be seen as a failure of the health care system that tends to prescribe these drugs too readily? Both at the same time, actually. On the one hand, depressive disorders are clearly increasing among the youngest segments of the population. For example, the report echoes a study that states that “one in four young people say they are unhappy“and”24% of young people surveyed say they have suicidal thoughts every day“. In this regard, the disastrous consequences of repeated arrests are highlighted, for example, by the 299% increase in the number of admissions of children under 15 years of age to the Robert Debre Hospital for attempted suicide between July-August 2019 and March-April 2021.

On the other hand, far from pointing the finger at caregivers who will forcefully and indiscriminately prescribe anxiolytics, anti-depressants and other psychotropic drugs to children, the report alleges a lack of medical facilities. These measures would only increase14% in 2008-2018“. A figure that is far below the expectations of industry professionals who have been sounding the alarm for many of them for several years. Added to this is a sharp decline in the number of active child psychiatrists, with many retirements and an average age that continues to rise. According to the report, “597 child psychiatrists are listed“As of January 1, 2020.average age: 65. In 2010-2021, 420 child psychiatrists retired without replacement.

“Tens of thousands of children” concerned

“In the absence of immediate follow-up due to lack of resources, mild situations of harassment or mild disturbances will turn into serious depression.– emphasizes child psychiatrist, president of CMPP (medical-psychological-pedagogical centers) federation Amandine Boufier. A finding confirmed by the report, which states that “young people who are showing signs of ill health or will need early care that is not a priority [tant qu’une pathologie psychiatrique n’a pas été diagnostiquée]they are not receiving care that would prevent their health from deteriorating“. A child psychiatrist notes that “Some patients have to wait a year, a year and a half or even two years to be able to use health facilities close to their homes.“. The report notes that this difficulty in accessing healthcare increases in disadvantaged areas, such as Saint-Saint-Denis;Children from disadvantaged groups are at greater risk of receiving medication.»

Worse still, the HCFEA report states that most of these prescriptions are made up.”off label(market authorization) because these medicines are not intended for children. A phenomenon that persists despitereminders“and”Vigilant point” repeats “health agencies“and by”some researchers, specialists, experts and specialists” Over the years. Specifically, “40%“Psychiatric drug prescriptions for children will be off-label.”in urban practice“against”67% (and up to 94%) in the hospital“. a situation”too serious“which justifies Amandie fighting for Bouffiertoo much medication“Young people love”collective priority “.