Many Doctors in Florida Juvenile Justice System Taking Large Payments from Drug Companies

In Florida, an investigation by The Palm Beach Post discovered more than a third of psychiatrists working for the state juvenile jails have accepted large speaking fees from pharmaceutical companies producing the anti-psychotic drugs regularly prescribed to kids in the Florida juvenile justice system.

According to The Post, child advocates are claiming the doctors are over-prescribing the powerful psychotropic drugs to children in the juvenile jails as a “chemical restraint” and not for a legitimate medical reason.

As a consequence of The Post’s findings, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Wansley Walters began an investigation into how psychotropic drugs are prescribed to children in DJJ custody.

Ryan Schill

Ryan Schill is a reporter with the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange. A graduate of Kennesaw State University, Ryan holds a BS in Communication with a concentration in Media Studies. He is currently pursuing an MA in Professional Writing at KSU. When he is not writing for JJIE, Ryan freelances for print and online magazines.

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