The Liberal Democrats have criticised Haringey Council for refusing to reveal what drugs are being given to children in care. Councillor Ron Aitken, the party’s Social Services Spokesperson, wrote to the Department on 24 October 2003 asking how many children who are looked after by social services had been given Ritalin, SSRI antidepressants or tranquillisers, and for the names of the drugs which have been administered to local children.

The national press last week carried the news that up to 50,000 children and adolescents have been given SSRI antidepressants even though they are not licensed for use with children – GPs can prescribe them if they think it is appropriate. The mental health charity MIND has called for a review of medicine regulation following revelations that more children given these drugs were likely to attempt suicide.

Four antidepressants of the SSRI type have now been banned by the Medicines and Healthcare Control Agency for use on children and adolescents. They are Lustral, Cipramil, Cipralex and Faverin, two others were banned earlier this year- Seroxat and Efexor.

Cllr Ron Aitken comments:

“Haringey’s silence on this issue is all too typical. I am concerned that local children in care have been prescribed these drugs, especially if they have not also been given access to ‘talking treatments’ which are far more effective in the long term than medication. I would also want to be satisfied that antidepressants and tranquillisers are not being used simply to control challenging behaviour rather than addressing long-term issues.”