A Bill Prohibiting Schools from Requiring Drugs for Kids

Sen. John Ensign has introduced a bill in the US Senate that would prohibit schools from forcing children to take medications such as Ritalin as a condition for attendance. Similar to legislation that passed overwhelmingly in the House in May, the bill would require states getting federal money to ensure that schools do not force parents to medicate their kids. Ensign, R-Nev., offered the legislation after meeting with parents who complained about the practice, said Jack Finn, an Ensign spokesman. A spokesperson for the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has issued a stement opposing the bill