Florida legislators are considering new restrictions on the use of psychiatric medication among foster children a year after a 7-year-old child in state care hung himself.

Gabriel Myers, 7, was prescribed Seroquel and other medications which are not specifically approved for use in children. The boy’s foster parents were reportedly not made aware of all the possible side effects of the drugs.

After Myers hung himself, a state task force found that 13 percent of the state’s foster children are taking psychiatric medications versus just 4 to 5 percent of children outside of the foster care system.

Now a bill under consideration in the Florida legislature would place new restrictions on the use of drugs in foster children. Under the bill, medication could not be used in kids under age 11 who are in state care without an independent review and foster children could not participate in clinical trials.

Further, the children themselves would have to consent to taking the drugs and all foster children taking psychiatric medication would be placed in counseling as well, reports WFOR, a Miami CBS affiliate. To read more click here.

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