Mental Health Watchdog Calls for Investigation of Psychiatric Drugging of Foster Children Following Facebook Broadcast Child’s Suicide

CLEARWATER, Fla., May 04, 2017 -- In response to the Miami Heraldⁱ story of 14-year-old Naika Venant committing suicide and broadcasting it on Facebook Live, the Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a watchdog group established by the Church of Scientology and Dr. Thomas Szasz in 1969, is calling for an investigation into the psychiatric drugging of children in the foster care system.

As reported by the Miami Herald, just 45 days before her suicide Naika’s dose of the antidepressant Zoloft had been doubled despite the fact that in 2004 the FDA had issued a warning against prescribing antidepressants to children because these drugs are linked to suicidal thoughts and suicides. 

The drugging of Florida’s foster children has been a recognized problem for years and resulted in policy changes following the tragic suicide of 7-year-old Gabriel Meyers, who was taking Lexapro, Zyprexa and Symbyax at the time of his death. Yet according to the Florida Institute on Child Welfare at Florida State University, 11 percent of children in state foster care had active prescriptions for at least one psychotropic drug as of July 2015.ⁱⁱ

“A two-year investigation of foster children in Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon and Texas found that these kids were prescribed psychotropic drugs at rates 2.7 to 4.5 times higher than other children,”ⁱⁱⁱ stated Diane Stein, President CCHR Florida. “While efforts have been made to stop this abuse they are not enough and so we are asking that this situation be thoroughly investigated and real measures put in place to protect these children.”

CCHR is asking for anyone who has knowledge of the abusive use of psychiatric drugs in the foster care system to report this abuse with full particulars and any documentary evidence by calling 727-442-8820 or online at www.cchrflorida.org.

About Citizens Commission On Human Rights:

Initially established by the Church of Scientology and renowned psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz in 1969, CCHR’s mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer protections. 

It was L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, who brought the terror of psychiatric imprisonment to the notice of the world.  In March 1969, he said, “Thousands and thousands are seized without process of law, every week, over the ‘free world’ tortured, castrated, killed.  All in the name of ‘mental health.’” For more information visit, www.cchrflorida.org

ⁱ Girl in Facebook Live hanging was prescribed drug with suicide warning
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article140244853.html

ⁱⁱ Report finds Florida foster kids put on psychotropic drugs without following proper procedures
 http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2015/09/22/report-finds-florida-foster-kids-put-on-psychotropic-drugs-without-following-proper-procedures

ⁱⁱⁱ Foster Kids Given Psychiatric Drugs At Higher Rates
http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2011/12/01/143017520/foster-kids-even-infants-more-likely-to-be-given-psychotropic-drugs

Media Contact:
Diane Stein
President, CCHR Florida
727-442-8820
[email protected]
www.cchrflorida.org