OpEdNews.com ran an article entitled “Doctors Prescribe Antipsychotic Drugs For Dementia In Nursing Homes” regarding how New York nursing home regulators found widespread misuse of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes. America is facing a public health crisis over the care of those with dementia says Dr. Bruce Pollock, president-elect of the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry. He says, we know the more staffing there is and the higher quality of care, the less the antipsychotic usage. These drugs have a role to play, he says, but “nonpharmachologic treatments” should be tried first. The Food and Drug Administration issued a “black box” warning on using the drugs for dementia patients in 2005. But the FDA stopped short of banning such use; officials say they give physicians the leeway to prescribe the drugs if they think it will help this difficult-to-treat population. Nearly 30% of the total nursing-home population is receiving antipsychotic drugs, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid [CMS].
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