More than half of parents said the drugs are helpful

By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter

More than 7 percent of American schoolchildren are taking at least one medication for emotional or behavioral difficulties, a new government report shows. Apparently, the medications are working: More than half of the parents said the drugs are helping their children, according to the report. “We can’t advise parents on what they should do, but I think it’s positive that over half of parents reported that medications helped ‘a lot,’ ” said report author LaJeana Howie, a statistical research scientist at the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. Howie and her colleagues weren’t able to identify the specific disorders the children were being treated for, although she said 81 percent of the children with emotional or behavioral difficulties had been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at some point in their lives. The researchers were also unable to identify the specific medications prescribed to the children for their emotional and behavioral difficulties, according to Howie. An expert not involved with the report agreed that ADHD likely would be one of the most common conditions involved. “Although the authors don’t really talk about the diagnoses, ADHD is likely the most overwhelming diagnosis. Oppositional defiant disorder, anxiety and depression are other likely diagnoses,” said Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York, in New Hyde Park. Data for the study came from the National Health Interview Survey, which continually collects information about health and health care in the United States. All of the information on children is obtained through parental (or other guardian) responses. None of the information comes from medical records. Overall, the researchers found that 7.5 percent of U.S. children between the ages of 6 and 17 were taking medication for an emotional or behavioral problem. Significantly more boys than girls were given medication — 9.7 percent of boys compared with 5.2 percent of girls. Older females were more likely than younger females to be given medication, but the age difference among males wasn’t significant, according to the report. White children were the most likely to be on psychiatric medications (9.2 percent), followed by black children (7.4 percent) and Hispanic children (4.5 percent), according to the report. The study found that significantly more children on Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program were on medication for emotional and behavioral problems (9.9 percent), versus 6.7 percent with private insurance and just 2.7 percent of children without insurance. Additionally, more families living below 100 percent of the federal poverty level had children taking medications for emotional and behavioral problems than those above the federal poverty level. Fifty-five percent of parents reported that these medications helped their children “a lot,” while another 26 percent said they helped “some.” Just under 19 percent said they didn’t help at all or helped just a little. Parents of younger children (between 6 and 11) were slightly more likely to feel the medications helped a lot compared to parents of older children. Parents of males were also more likely to feel the medications helped a lot — about 58 percent of parents of males reported that they helped a lot compared to about 50 percent of the parents of females. The report found that parents with incomes less than 100 percent of the federal poverty level were the least likely to feel the medications helped a lot. Just 43 percent of those parents said the medications helped a lot, while about 31 percent said they helped some. More than one-quarter of these parents said the medications only helped a little or not at all. Of those findings, Howie said, “We really can’t speculate what factors would account for the difference.” For his part, Adesman said there are many factors that might contribute to more use of medications in people living under the poverty line and for those on government insurance programs. “There may be parenting challenges, such as more single-parent households, medications may be more available than access to behavioral treatments, there may be more logistical issues with nonpharmaceutical interventions, like getting time off from work,” Adesman said. “Many more families have access to prescription medications than to non-pharmaceutical interventions. There’s a lack of mental health treatment parity. “It’s encouraging that children who are identified as taking prescription medications are benefiting from those medications,” Adesman said. However, he added, “There are nonpharmaceutical treatments for virtually all psychiatric diagnoses in children. For households where a child has significant emotional or behavioral difficulties, counseling, behavior management and some forms of psychotherapy can be helpful as well.” More information Learn more about medications for childhood emotional and behavioral problems from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

EFD’s Marathon Relay Team starts off a new season with some new members and some new obstacles to overcome…literally. Eric Jamison and Team EFD will travel to Laurel Indiana and compete in the Spartan Run this Saturday April 26th. The Spartan Run isn’t your typical Marathon or Cross Country course but a 4+ mile course that contains unknown obstacles and other challenges “designed to take you out of your comfort zone”.

Some of the obstacles the Team will encounter will be mud, water, fire, hills, walls, tunnels, climbing ropes, rope towers, barbed wire and a couple of unexpected challenges. Obstacles are not known in advance.

Team EFD members are: Eric Jamison, Team Captain; Joey Jones; Anthony Turi; Derrick Fullen; Lucas Macke; Chad Beckham and Sean Reed (EPD).

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Yesterday afternoon at approximately 5:00 p.m., Trooper Wes Kuykendall was patrolling US 41 when he stopped a motorist for driving 84 mph near CR 225 North. When Kuykendall approached the vehicle he immediately detected an odor of burnt marijuana. The driver was identified as David J. May, 35, of Francisville, Ill. A search of the vehicle revealed digital scales, two smoking pipes and suspected synthetic marijuana. The driver was arrested and taken to the Gibson County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.

Arrested and Charges:
• David J. May, 35, Francisville, Ill.
1. Possession of Synthetic Drugs over 2 grams, Class D Felony
2. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Class A Misdemeanor

Arresting Officer: Trooper Wes Kuykendall, Indiana State Police
Assisting Officer: Sergeant Kevin Brown, Indiana State Police

By Paige Clark
TheStatehouseFile.com

The Indiana Education Roundtable endorsed new state standards for math and English during a meeting Monday despite boos from opponents who say the new education guidelines are too much like Common Core.

The standards passed easily and now move to the State Board of Education for a final up-or-down vote.

Members of Hoosiers against the Common Core – a group that has been fighting standards that have been adopted by a majority of states and endorsed by President Barack Obama’s administration – rallied at the Statehouse then marched to the roundtable meeting Monday to show their protest.

“We’re going to that meeting to have them looks us in the eye,” said the group’s co-founder, Erin Tuttle. “We are the people that have to live with the consequences of their decision.”

In 2010, Indiana adopted the standards for math and English but opted out of the science, social studies and history standards set by the Common Core. But as the state began phasing in Common Core, became increasingly controversial.

Last year, the General Assembly paused Common Core’s implementation and ordered education officials to take a second look. Then one month ago, Gov. Mike Pence signed SB 91 – calling for new standards written “by Hoosiers for Hoosiers.” Superintendent Glenda Ritz and the state board have been working through that process.

Pence said Monday that the new standards were created by “the best process” with “more Hoosier input and transparency than ever before.” They combine some of Indiana’s past standards with Common Core and ideas from other states.

The crowd against the new standards booed and laughed as Pence spoke.

“I teach for various colleges here in Indiana and I put together some of my own curriculum,” said David Lantz at the rally prior to the meeting. “I have a master’s degree and so what Common Core does is it pushes anybody that has any knowledge about their subject matter from creating competing text books.”

Molly Chamberlin, chief assessment and accountability officer for the Center for Education and Career Innovation, said the process included an evaluation board, assessment board, and a college and career ready panel.

For the first time in Indiana, the standards included math beyond algebra two – trigonometry, pre-calculus – and focused on the integration from high school to post-secondary options.

“There are things that other states will learn from our process,” Chamberlain said. The crowd, again, responded with a laugh.

“We always worried the that we would have a Common Core rebrand, but what I never imaged is that they would produce a set of new standards that is actually worse than the Common Core. That really shocked me. It contains more of what of we didn’t want and less of what we advocated for,” Tuttle said. “To me the new standards are really a smack in the face to parents who have fought really hard in opposition to Common Core.”

Despite the crowd’s loud objections, the standards passed – math 21-2, one abstention, and English 21-3.

Wendy Robinson, Fort Wayne Community Schools Superintendent, said the issue is complex and should be treated that way.

“People want to simplify something that is very complicated,” Robinson said. “I had to re-read (the new standards.) But I had to re-read the ones in 2000 too. We’re acting as if these are different the (standards) adopted in 2000.”

A big difference between the old and new standards is the focus on “media literacy” – which became controversial at the meeting. Amos Brown, a talk show host for AM 1310, said it was unreasonable to expect teachers to fully understand what media is.

“Was anyone in the media consulted on this?” Brown said. “I think the standards need to respect the simple Hoosier language.”

Danielle Shockey, deputy superintendent of public instruction for the Indiana Department of Education, said the term “media” was being misunderstood. She said the standard related to using the media and deciding what sources are credible and which aren’t.

“(Students) need to be taught how to be critical thinkers,” Shockey said.

Even though the “media literacy” standard was added to the curriculum, it will not be a part of the assessment testing, said State Superintendent Glenda Ritz.

The new standards move onto the Board of Education and must be finalized by July 1 of this year. However, they will not be fully implemented until the 2015-2016 school year.

Pence said Indiana is the first state to repeal the Common Core standards.

“I am grateful to every Hoosier who knew that Indiana could do better than the Common Core,” Pence said. “The Indiana standards before you today, I believe, were crafted in the Indiana way. I trust Hoosiers, I trust our teachers who worked in good faith to craft these standards.”

Paige Clark is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

Today the Indiana State Police recognized Forensic Scientist William Bowles from the Evansville Regional Laboratory for his 35 years of dedicated service to the department and the citizens of Indiana. Major Steve Holland, Commander of the Indiana State Police Laboratory Division, presented Bowles a 35 year certificate on behalf of Superintendent Doug Carter.

Bowles is a native of Berea, KY, and a 1967 graduate of Berea Foundation High School. He later attended Berea College where he graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry.

Bowles started his forensic science career with the Indiana State Police in April 1979 and was the very first forensic scientist hired to work at the Evansville Regional Laboratory, which serves all law enforcement agencies in southern Indiana. His primary responsibility is analyzing drugs (controlled substances). During the first several years after opening the laboratory, Bowles was responsible for guiding tours and speaking to numerous college and high school groups about the new facility. He was also responsible for training new analysts. During his career, Bowles has testified as an expert witness in over 500 criminal trials.

“Bowles is the most conscientious forensic analyst I have had the privilege of working with over my 35 year career in forensic science. The excellent reputation of the Evansville Regional Laboratory was earned in large part by the sacrifices and contributions made by Bowles,” said Joe Vetter, Manager of the Evansville Regional Lab.

Bowles and his wife, Linda, reside in Vanderburgh County and they have two children.

Photo: Left to Right – Major Steve Holland, William Bowles, Donna Roskowski and Joe Vetter