No American Left Undrugged
   by EVELYN PRINGLE

The New Freedom Commission was established by executive order on April 29,
2002. On that date at a speech in New Mexico, Bush said mental health centers
and hospitals, homeless shelters, the justice and school systems have contact
with individuals suffering from mental disorders but that too many Americans
fall through the cracks of the current system and so he created the Commission
to ensure "that the cracks are closed."

On July 22, 2003 the NFC recommended redesigning the mental health system in
all fifty states and said, "Achieving this goal will require ... a greater
focus on mental health care in institutions such as schools, child welfare
programs, and the criminal and juvenile justice systems. The goal is integrated
care that can screen, identify, and respond to problems early," in a press
release.

Despite a nearly 500% increase in mental health drugs being prescribed to children
in the previous 6 years, the NFC recommended a plan of mandatory mental health
screening for all public school students and follow-up treatment with drugs
when needed.