PRESS RELEASEDate: Shropshire Star 7 June 2004
Contact Nick Radcliffe: 01952 522720 Nick.Radcliffe@telfordpct.nhs.uk
Top US Psychiatrist shocks local parents and health workersA top American psychiatrist has shocked audiences from Shrewsbury and Telford with her revelations about the effects on growing children’s brains of TV, computer games and psychiatric medication. Dr Grace Jackson, a former psychiatrist with the United States navy was speaking Monday and Tuesday at Chaddeslode House, Shrewsbury and Coalbrookdale Community Centre. Dr Jackson talked about the considerable harm done to children as young as two by the use of prescription drugs like Ritalin. In the United states more than 6 million children are on these drugs and in the UK the figure is now over 100,000.Nick Radcliffe, a Consultant Clinical Child Psychologist from Wellington’s Glebe Centre said, “I am really shocked by what I have heard and will do my best to make sure that local GPs and health workers think very carefully before agreeing to children taking these drugs. We also need to think about a culture that prefers to plonk children down in front of TVs rather than play in the park with them or even just go for a walk.”Dr Jackson finishes her short tour of the West Midlands this week before flying home to North Carolina. She is happy to be contacted via Dr Radcliffe, Glebe Centre, Wellington, Telford