Are Psychiatric Drugs Being Pushed on Kids?

I watched a video called "Are Prescription Drugs Safe for Your Child?" which interviewed Dr. Cass, a well-known psychiatrist and author. Dr. Cass gave her input on the safety of the drugs people are giving their children. First she states that pharmacies have given psychiatrists prescription drugs intended for adults or older children but the psychiatrists have pushed the age limit lower and lower. The big issue is that these medicated children are on large dosages of prescriptions and usually dangerously strong combinations of drugs. But most importantly, these drugs have never been tested on children, so why are psychiatrists giving them to children?? They do not know the side effects, or even if it could help the child's "condition". While yes these children might cause less disruptions during class, they deal with troubling side effects at the same time. Suppressed appetite, extensive growth, sleeplessness, these are all part of the medication "solving" their problems. However, despite these disturbing side effects, there is a scarier problem. Doctors and psychiatrists have no idea what these drugs are doing to these children's brains. Most of the patients being given prescription drugs are toddlers or even infants! Therefore, most of the patients don't even have fully developed brains yet. How do you think a cabinet full of prescription drugs would affect a developing brain? There are so many questions that doctors still cannot answer, yet they continue giving out drugs like they're candy. Such questions are: Will these drugs prevent the full development of the child's brain? When they grow up will their brains be dependant on these drugs since they've had them before full development? ...And the list goes on...Our job is to QUESTION the DOCTORS!! What's the big deal with asking a doctor challenging questions when they diagnose or prescribe your child with something? Its the doctor's job to expect questions and know the answers especially if they expect you to give your child what they suggest. The DOCTOR’S JOB is to test the child's biochemistry not their symptoms before they start diagnosing them or prescribing pills as a cure. For example, Dr. Cass suggested checking the child’s blood sugar level and their amount of vitamins and nutrients they get, because if a child is not eating appropriately they may have blood sugar swings, which doctors may see as “bipolar mood swings”. Once again most of this is from Dr. Cass’s interview, however, part of the more opinionated comments are mine =) but if you want to see the interview here is the link:
http://video.answers.com/are-prescription-drugs-safe-for-your-child-213402688