National Mental Health Campaign Seeks to End Prescribing

Ineffective, Costly and Harmful Medications 

 

Orange County, Calif., January 6, 2011 - The National Association of Professional Psychology Providers (NAPPP) announced today the launch of a new national public education and awareness campaign to ensure that children and adults have access to effective, evidence-based mental health services.  The "Truth in Drugs" campaign is a nationwide effort to raise public awareness that psychotherapy is an available and effective treatment option when compared to medications that have been proven ineffective, costly and harmful.

 

"Physicians are treating patients complaining of behavioral disorders with medications doctors know, or should know, are no more effective than sugar pills," said Dr. John Caccavale, Executive Director of NAPPP. "Every day, physicians, who are untrained and lack the expertise to diagnose possible mental health problems, are prescribing drugs, which do not work, for conditions patients may not even have. We are failing patients in need of quality mental health services."

 

The Truth in Drugs Campaign seeks to restore psychotherapy as the first line treatment for behavioral disorders and the value and need for appropriate diagnosis and treatment by a qualified doctoral-level mental health specialist. The Campaign calls on doctors, patients, their family members and community organizations to unite behindnew standards of patient care so that millions of Americans receive the mental health services they need and deserve.

 

"Poor outcomes associated with inappropriate psychotropic prescribing regimens are based on compromised science generated by drug manufacturers. Drug companies spend vast sums on advertising to convince consumers these drugs are the answer to their problems and provide perks and financial incentives for physicians to prescribe them," added Dr. Caccavale. "Psychotropic medications should only be considered after a patient has been fully evaluated and diagnosed by a doctoral level specialist in behavioral health and has failed to significantly improve from non medication intervention."   This shift of behavioral health to primary care has led to misdiagnoses, poor treatment, and non-treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders due to patients, including children, receiving medications as a first line treatment without an appropriate evaluation and diagnosis from a doctoral level mental health professional. The result of this shift has led to poor health outcomes, increased health care costs and a lower standard of care for patients. Primary care physicians, coupled with the continuing shortage of psychiatrists, are providing behavioral treatment services they are are not trained in and lack the skills to provide.

 

About The Truth in Drugs Campaign

 

The Truth in Drugs Campaign seeks to restore psychotherapy as the first line treatment for behavioral disorders and stop physicians from prescribing to patients medications for behavioral disorders proven to be ineffective, costly and harmful. Patients are not benefiting from these treatments while drug maker marketing expenses and the proliferation of non-performing medications have become a significant factor in rising healthcare costs. Our campaign seeks to establish new standards of patient care so that millions of Americans receive the mental health services they need and deserve.

 

Get Involved

 

Join the Truth in Drugs campaign! Individuals and organizations are invited to unite behind our principles to assure that youth and adults receive the best and most appropriate care possible.  The more we all speak with one voice, the better our chances of putting patients first when providing mental health services. Together, we can restore a safe and effective mental health system and on which millions can depend. 

 

For more information about the Truth in Drugs Campaign and how to become involved, visit www.truthindrugs.com   Follow the Truth in Drugs Campaign on Facebook, Twitter (@truthindrugs), LinkedIn and YouTube  the  The NAPPP Website

 

NAPPP Contact:

Dr. John Caccavale

Phone: (714) 927-4439, email: admin@nappp.org

 

Media Contact:

Tim Jemal, Jemal Public Affairs

Phone: (949) 636-8946, email: tim@jemalpublicaffairs.com

 

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