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Did you know that children and young people with autism, learning disabilities or both are more likely to be given psychotropic medication than other young people?
What is psychotropic medication?
Psychotropic medicines work in the brain and they are used to treat mental illness. They affect behaviour, mood, consciousness, thoughts or perception. Sometimes they are given to control behaviour seen as challenging by others. Some examples of psychotropic medications are; antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilisers, anxiolytics (benzodiazepines), sedatives and antiepileptics.
Sometimes these medications are right for a person and can help them live a happy life. However, some children and young people can be supported with either less medication or none at all.
What is the problem?
An alarming finding from Public Health England says that every day about 30,000 to 35,000 adults with a learning disability are taking psychotropic medicines, when they do not have the health conditions the medicines are for.
Furthermore, in the UK every year, millions of under 18s are prescribed psychotropic medicines and some young people are even receiving medications that have been tested and approved for adult use only.
The apprehension around psychotropic medicines is that they can cause issues if people take them for too long, take too high a dose, or take them for the wrong reason. This can cause side effects like:
- putting on weight
- feeling tired or ‘drugged up’
- serious problems with physical health
It is time to tackle the problem!
The NHS have put together a team called STOMP and STAMP.
STOMP stands for: Stop Over Medicating autistic people and people with a learning disability and it is for children, young people and adults.
STAMP stands for Supporting Treating Appropriate Medication in Paediatrics and is for children and young people.
When medication is prescribed for the wrong reason, it is called inappropriate medication. STOMP and STAMP team (NHS), Learning Disability England and Challenging Behaviour Foundation are working to stop this happening.
The team have written a survey to ask autistic people, people with a learning disability and their families and carers about the use of psychotropic medication. It is important that we use our voice and stop the prescription of inappropriate medication. If you would like to find out more information about this survey click here.
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