California Prison Spending: Investigation Reveals Huge Cost Of Anti-Psychotics

[Coyotl]

Livin' in the USSR!

California Prison Spending: Investigation Reveals Huge Cost Of Anti-Psychotics
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/01/california-prison-spending_n_3194217.html

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — While under federal court oversight, California's prison mental health system has been spending far more on anti-psychotic drugs than other states with large prison systems, raising questions about whether patients are receiving proper treatment.

Figures compiled by The Associated Press show that California has been spending a far greater percentage on anti-psychotic medication for inmates than other states with large prison systems. While the amount has been decreasing in recent years, anti-psychotics still account for nearly $1 of every $5 spent on pharmaceuticals purchased for the state prison system.

Questions about the spending have been raised by the state budget analyst and by the court-appointed authority in charge of buying prison pharmaceuticals, who concluded that California's inmate mental health professionals appear to overmedicate their patients. .....

[mike_c]

1. I would think that an atmosphere of constant punishment and dehumaniztion...

...would only exacerbate existing psychological problems. On the other hand, I'd be willing to bet that making cannabis freely available to them would solve the problem better, at lower cost.

[bemildred]

2. That is what evil looks like. nt

[HiPointDem]

3. soma for all & fat prpfits for big pharma

[DonRedwood]

4. Hold on... does population, # of mental patients, etc. play into these numers?

Just curious. Here on the West Coast, especially California, we have a lot of homeless people with mental illness who live out here because of the warmer weather.

I wonder if other warmer southern states have similar increased numbers?