California Senate Committee Investigates Use of Psychiatric Drugs for Foster Children

On Tuesday, lawmakers on the Senate Human Services Committee and patient advocates decried the use of psychiatric drugs in foster children, after reports that nearly 25% of foster care teens take psychiatric drugs. During the hearing, lawmakers discussed a package of bills being introduced this month targeting the practice.

• "Senate Panel Examines Why California Foster Care System 'Addicted' to Psychiatric Drugs" (de Sá, San Jose Mercury News, 2/24).
• "Legislators Delve Into Why Many Foster Children Are on Psych Drugs" (Therolf, Los Angeles Times, 2/24).
• "Lawmakers Blast Overuse of Psychiatric Drugs on Foster Kids" (Lin, AP/Sacramento Bee, 2/24).