By CCHR Int
February 12, 2010

On January 29, 2010, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) issued a formal statement that it is “seriously concerned about studies that indicate the rapid increase within a short period of time of the prescription of psycho-stimulants such as Ritalin and Concerta to children diagnosed with ADHD.”^[1]

The Committee met in Geneva to review Norway’s implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and was responding to the 10-fold increase in psychostimulants prescribed children in the country between 1991 and 2003 and a further 70% since 2004.  Big Pharma has been reaping the profits from this—sales of psychostimulants increased more than 4,000% during the last decade. It was the third Nordic country the Committee had investigated for its psychiatric drugging of children.

Norwegian government delegates, including the Minister of Children, Audun Lyskbakken, and representatives of the Department of Health were strongly questioned about the potential abuse of children with powerful stimulants.  In a twitter message from the hearing the Norway’s Ombudsman for children said Minister Lyskbakken was questioned about the soaring Ritalin usage and whether children’s diets may be the source of “ADHD” symptoms resulting in prescriptions for stimulants. The Minister conceded, “There is room for improvement.”^[2] The Norwegian Minister of Children also told the hearing that two studies are being conducted to establish the effectiveness of Omega 3 oils on the symptoms of “ADHD” and that medication should only be a last resort.

This is a step in the right direction of cocaine-like stimulants (that can cause psychosis, heart attacks and strokes) being prohibited for use in children, especially when there are safe non-drug alternatives.

Media reports on the CRC hearing and recommendations noted that expert testimony discussed evidence that diet is linked to behavior problems and questioned how Norway’s schools were tackling this. ^[3]

The CRC recommended that the government “carefully examine” the “phenomenon of over-prescription of psycho-stimulants to children” and to take initiatives to provide children with a greater range of educational and treatment options.

In 2005, the CRC completed a review of the implementation of human rights standards for children and issued a strong warning then to the governments that so-called ADHD and ADD are being misdiagnosed and that psychostimulant drugs are being over-prescribed, despite growing evidence of the harmful effects of these drugs.^[4]

[1] UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Committee on the Rights of the Child, “Main areas of concern and recommendations; Basic health and welfare, points 42 & 43.) 29 Jan, 2010.

[2] http://www.morsmal.org/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=1460

[3] United Nations, Committee on Rights of Child Examines Report of Norway, 21 Jan. 2010.

[4] “Considerations of reports under article 44 of the convention—Concluding observations: Finland,” UN Committee of the Rights of the Child, CRC/C/15/Add.272, 20 Oct. 2005, p. 7; “Considerations of reports under article 44 of the convention—Concluding observations: Denmark,” UN Committee of the Rights of the Child, CRC/C/DNK/CO/3, 25 Nov. 2005, p. 8.