America’s Medicated Kids

America’s Medicated Kids follows Louis Theroux as he visits one of America’s leading psychiatric centres in Pennsylvania. Having to cope with the challenging behaviour of their children, many parents are turning to medication, despite the fact that both the drugs and diagnoses remain controversial.

Theroux investigates how children being put on medication for mental health disorders and their families are being affected by the medication. He meets with psychiatrists, counsellors, parents and children to gain an understanding of the topic.

The film assesses whether families are becoming over-dependent on using prescription pills to medicate children, exactly how they are beneficial, and how they can have negative effects on children and their families.