Assignment 3: Persuasive Paper

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Assignment 3: Persuasive Paper Part 1: A Problem Exists “Regulating the Regulators” Written By: Christine Roccasalvo Professor Holly Sprinkle Research & Writing ENG 215 Sunday, August 05, 2012 Statistical figures of the accidental deaths of minors due to negligence in supervision have soared; emergency departments have called such overdoses “accidental.” “Should minors take their mental health prescriptions without parental supervision; should these medications be left at their reach?” According to G. Randall Bond, Randall W. Woodward, and Mona Ho (Journal of Pediatrics, 2011) children are at great risk due to the sheer ubiquity of accessible prescription pill bottles in their homes. According to WebMD ("Drug overdose," 2005) children…show more content…
In those years especially, when prevention and early intervention can have significant long-term impact, primary care providers and organizations have a critical role to play in developmental and behavioral screening, parent counseling, and referral to community resources. According to an article posted in the American Med News (Primary care doctors ill-equipped, 2011) it is not clear whether primary care providers are prepared fully to take on this increased role in mental health treatment. There is some evidence to suggest that primary care providers often misdiagnose mental health conditions, have less than optimal outcomes with medications, and generally do not provide psychosocial services along with medication. Lack of time, insufficient training, and inadequate specialized and community referral resources and financing have been cited as barriers to maximizing the role of primary care in addressing the mental health needs of children. Due to the lack of knowledge the primary care physician cannot properly address the issue and leaves the concerns of the parents or guardians unheard. Primary care physicians have become uncomfortable discussing mental health issues with guardians and parents due to lack of training on the subject; limited…show more content…
N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Aug. 2012. http://www.americanhumane.org/children/stop-child-abuse/fact-sheets/child-neglect.html Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Mental Health Medications. Science Writing, Press & Dissemination Branch. Retrieved July 14, 2012, from www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/mental-health-medications/nimh-mental-health-medications.pdf Drug overdose. (2005, August 10). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/drug-overdose.htm G. Randall Bond, Randall W. Woodward, Mona Ho. The Growing Impact of Pediatric Pharmaceutical Poisoning. The Journal of Pediatrics, 2011; DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2011.07.042 J. Setlik, Mona Ho, G. Randall Bond. (2010). Emergency department use after pediatric pharmaceutical ingestion: comparison of two national databases. Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 48. Retrieved from http://www.biomedsearch.com/nih/Emergency-department-use-after-pediatric/20070181.html National Institute of Mental Health. (2008). Mental health medications. Retrieved from

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