Use of Psychotropic Medications by Children and Youth with Disabilities

(2003)

The use of prescription medications to treat children and youth with emotional or behavioral problems has increased in recent years, in part because of both the availability of new psychotropic medications—those that alter behavior or mood—and an increased awareness of the treatment needs of these children and youth. However, there have not been reliable estimates of how many school-age students take such medications, particularly among students receiving special education…