The drugging of our children continues

For decades, parents have tried to tell their kids to "just say no" to drugs. At the same time, we've bombarded our children with the message that drugs are good if they are called "medicines."

The booming "kids' drug" market has spurred the drug industry to go into high gear in an effort to push even more drugs on children.

At this moment, some 217 medicines and vaccines are in development for children. The Food and Drug Administration has already approved 25 medicines for children in the past year, and pharmaceutical companies will soon begin clinical trials on an additional 52 potential medicines for children.

A survey by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) found 48 medicines in development for cancer; 14 for asthma; nine for AIDS and AIDS-related disorders, and seven for cystic fibrosis.

In addition, drug companies hope to bolster their revenue by marketing drugs for children with heart disease, diabetes, eye disorders, Crohn's disease, sickle cell disease, Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, ear infections, pneumonia, cerebral palsy, Tourette's syndrome, psychiatric disorders, transplant rejection, autism and other conditions.

"The survey shows that medicines for children are a very active area of pharmaceutical research, despite the many practical, legal and ethical difficulties of testing medicines in children," said PhRMA President Alan F. Holmer.

The government has to share part of the blame for this frenzy of kids' drugs.

In 1997, Congress set up a program to provide incentives for studying medicines in children. However, Congress has not yet set up a program to provide incentives for studying drug-free alternatives for children, such as chiropractic or nutrition.