Psychoactive Drugs Play In Mental Health Essay

What role do psychoactive drugs play in mental illness, speak to the population I work with and my opinion.
As an aspiring school psychologist, I plan on working with children. The age group I want to work with is children ages 5-12. I have mixed feelings about the use of psychoactive drugs in this population. I think in this population, psychoactive drugs should be a last result. The most commonly prescribed psychoactive drug for children are stimulates for the treatment of ADHD symptoms. I think these stimulates should only be prescribed when all other behavior and social emotional interventions have been implemented. ADHD medication can have side effects such as: insomnia, nausea, diarrhea, rashes, increased blood pressure, and increased pulse (Diamond, 2002). The long term neurological

Illinois’s law outlines, psychologist cannot prescribe to children and the elderly (APA, 2015). I think this is a necessary regulation for psychologist. I do think psychologist should have limited prescription privileges for adults. Psychologist with prescription privileges, should be required to get a masters in psychopharmacology. I think prescription privileges for psychologist is most needed in rural states, where there is a shortage of psychiatrist. Everyone deserves access to full mental health services no matter where they live, allowing psychologist prescription privileges assists with this. I also think it would be beneficial for a psychologist, who see a client every week to prescribe a psychoactive drug and monitor the effects. A physician may only see a client once every three months. Medical doctors who are not psychiatrist are able to prescribe psychoactive medications. Medical doctors have less training in mental health than psychologist. I think if medical doctors can prescribe psychotropic medications psychologist should have that privilege. Psychologist have advance training in mental