Psychotropic Drug Use with European American and American Indian Children in Foster Care

This study examines the use of psychotropic drugs with 473 European American and American Indian children in foster care. Prescription data for seven categories of psychotropic drugs were obtained from Medical Assistance records for the year 2000. European American and American Indian children constituted 60% and 33% of the sample, respectively. Fortythree percent of the children received psychotropic medication. Usage among males was higher than females (45% vs. 35%). For children under the age of 8 usage ranged from 2% to 30%; more than 50% of the older children were medicated. Most frequently used drugs were antidepressants and stimulants. Proportionately more European American children received drugs than American Indian children (48% vs. 34%), but usage of different categories of psychotropic across racial groups was similar. The authors discuss tentative hypotheses for differences between the present and previous studies as well as for the disproportionate use of psychotropic drugs across racial groups.