Are Psychiatric Meds Over-Prescribed to LA Foster Kids?

Congress has ordered the states to improve their oversight of antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs being given to kids when they're in foster care or the justice system. Officials of County agencies are supposed to keep track of powerful psychiatric medicines given to some of the 19,000 kids in their care. This week, the LA Times reported that 1050 more children in foster care and the juvenile delinquency system were getting antidepressants and antipsychotics than records showed. County officials insist there was no under-reporting.

Photo: Tom Varco