FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHAADA / UNITE / COPES FOUNDATION / ICFDA OPPOSITION TO THE MOTHERS ACT, S. 1375 / H.R. 20

THERE IS NO ESCAPING THE DANGEROUS REALITY OF THIS BILL

March 3, 2008

Contacts:
Amy Philo amy@uniteforlife.org
214-705-0169 home, 817-793-8028 cell
www.chaada.org, www.uniteforlife.org

Dr. Ann Blake Tracy, Executive Director of the ICFDA
http://www.drugawareness.org/home.html
atracyphd1@aol.com, 801-209-1800 direct, 801-335-4727 fax

Camille Milke sarinasvoice@aol.com 
505-269-2286 direct or 505-213-0999 fax
www.copesfoundation.com, http://www.drugawareness.org/home.html

Xavier Jones xavierkjones88@yahoo.com, 214-573-3684
Recent Zoloft homicidal thinking survivor, and mother of three

Kim Witczak kim@woodymatters.com, 612-877-0570
Widow of a Zoloft Suicide victim (Zoloft was prescribed to help Woody sleep when he started a new job)

Theresa Smith & Drew Walker rumshaker@comcast.net, 724-846-1078

Julie Edgington give2manie@yahoo.com, 319-234-3584

Mo Kashmiri, J.D. mokashmiri@gmail.com 

Dr. Mary Ann Block, M.D., http://www.blockcenter.com 817-268-3377

Dr. John Breeding, Ph.D. , JBREEDING2@austin.rr.com, www.wildestcolts.com

Genita Petralli H.H.P., N.C., M.H. – Nutritional Biochemist and Orthomolecular Practiitioner, genita@greenbodyandmind.com, 818-919-1731

Dr. Fred Baughman, M.D., Neurologist, fredbaughmanmd@cox.net

James B. Gottstein, J.D., President: www.psychrights.org

Byron J. Richards, CCN, www.wellnessresources.com

Mike Adams, editor@naturalnews.com

Mathy Milling Downing mathy02@aol.com, 310-926-4272

James Coy james_coy30@yahoo.com, 606-365-1832


The supporters of The MOTHERS Act have been engaging for the past few years in an aggressive attempt to pass an incredibly broad federal law which will transform the U.S. market for “antidepressant,” “antipsychotic,” and “mood stabilizing” drugs from a voluntary pool of patients who are encouraged by commercials to seek help from their doctors, to a government-sponsored screening program to select patients who are deemed to need antidepressant and other drugs from among the female childbearing-age population. These promoters of the bill have had vast resources and ample time to obtain support and backing from the legislators they have influenced. The bill has passed the U.S. House, and needs approval from the Senate, final agreement from the House if any changes are made, and a signature from President Bush. This could happen in a matter of days or weeks.

The timing of the impending vote on this bill in the U.S. Senate is highly ironic in light of the tremendous amount of negative news we have seen on antidepressants and other drugs over the past several months. It is especially shocking to see it being promoted at a time when our society is being terrified by frequent shootings and murder-suicides which have been preceded by the perpetrator’s use and sometimes improper discontinuation of antidepressant drugs, and in the wake of several notable celebrities’ deaths which were the result of prescription drug toxicity. The evidence against these drugs is frightening, and the reality is that, if The MOTHERS Act is passed, those who are the most innocent and vulnerable and in need of protection FROM these drugs will instead be put ON these drugs, and placed in serious danger from all of the negative drug effects - including spontaneous abortion, a tenfold increased risk of psychosis for postpartum women, birth defects, suicide, and homicide (yes, this is a listed antidepressant side effect).

The bill creates funding for development of new drugs at taxpayers’ expense. Doctors will be under greater pressure to prescribe drugs to pregnant and postpartum women due to federal law which would ensure the promotion of earlier “detection” and “treatment.” Despite the fact that the law admits that the causes of depression or psychosis can vary between many life situations and social realities, and perhaps some unknown biological factors, and the manufacturers’ own research (kept hidden for years but recently revealed) shows that antidepressants have no more benefit than a sugar pill, the bill endorses drugs and hospitalization as essential and necessary treatment options. Many women who seek treatment or reach out for help under this proposed legislation would be under the watchful eyes of the government rather than simply under the care and guidance of their doctors or counselors. The potential for creating violence, death, and destroying families through the administration of drugs combined with possible involvement of police, CPS, and the courts, as well as the invasions of privacy and individual freedoms that this bill would ensure, must not be accepted.

Since we first issued our press release opposing S. 1375, The MOTHERS Act on February 11, thousands of people have been made aware of this bill, which at one time flew way under the public radar. Many people have come forward for the first time with sad stories of personal harm caused by the drugs, while a few others have, unfortunately, gone on to continue their support for a bill that threatens to bring about a dire and dangerous situation, sacrificing life, family, children, motherhood, freedom, and our future.

Some people pushing for the bill have taken notice of our efforts, and in response simply told the public and the media that The MOTHERS Act is mainly about “education.” That sounds so innocuous and harmless that it’s nearly impossible for most people to disagree with the bill if they have not read its contents. But even if that were the true purpose, or if the Senate were to rewrite the bill and remove most of the negative wording, leaving ONLY education as its goal, let us consider this idea for a moment - what is the impact of an education or awareness campaign promoting certain psychiatric labels?

In a 1996 study cited by Dr. Grace Jackson in her book, Rethinking Psychiatric Drugs, researchers discovered that an awareness campaign in the UK called “Defeat Depression” resulted in a significant increase in prescriptions for antidepressants, a change in physician practices of increased willingness to prescribe, and a large increase in agreement from the public that antidepressant drugs are effective and should be given to patients. Furthermore, to summarize from a follow-up study in 2001, researchers concluded that since there were still so many people who favored alternative treatments such as yoga, meditation and natural remedies over antidepressants, “further efforts to improve public knowledge about pharmacotherapy of mental disorders [were] needed.”
 
Would passing The MOTHERS Act in effect counter the ideas of those who have wised up to the drug companies, by creating a sense of legitimacy through governmental drug endorsements? By promoting earlier detection and treatment of postpartum depression or psychosis, or depression in pregnancy, it makes sense that we would see the numbers of prescriptions for antidepressants , mood “stabilizers” (anticonvulsants), and antipsychotic drugs significantly increase in pregnant and postpartum women. This would be a boon to the drug industry, which has had to deal with the potential for decreasing sales since the FDA issued black box warnings on SSRIs for doubling the risk of suicide in 2004, and black box warnings on anticonvulsant drugs for doubling suicides just a few weeks ago. Eli Lilly received a “Not Approvable” letter for their new injectable Zyprexa application several days ago. Also, a recent analysis of all studies submitted to the FDA prior to approval of many antidepressant drugs showed that the drugs overall were no more effective than placebo, but that most of the studies in which antidepressants did worse than placebo were never made public, or the results were misreported.

With the truth stacked against the drugs and against this bill, we have no option other than to campaign vigorously against the passage of The MOTHERS Act. There are many steps you can take right now to help ensure its defeat and safeguard our women, unborn babies, and the innocent bystanders whose paths sometimes cross those of people who commit crimes during altered states while under the influence of prescription drugs.

First, sign our petition against the MOTHERS Act http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-the-dangerous-and-invasive-mothers-act

Next, contact the U.S. Senate and demand that they consider the truth and stop this bill dead in its tracks. For phone and fax numbers for the Senate please go to http://uniteforlife.org/senatecontactlist.htm

Please share this information with everyone you possibly can and urge them to act now.

Please also read the addendum to this press release, especially the excerpts which follow the links, and feel free to forward this entire information packet.
 

Sincerely,

Amy Philo
Founder, www.uniteforlife.org
Co-Founder, www.chaada.org
Survivor of Zoloft-induced homicidality, suicidality, and psychosis during the postpartum period

Camille Milke
Founder, www.copesfoundation.com
New Mexico State Director of the ICFDA (http://www.drugawareness.org/home.html)
Mother of a victim of psychiatric drug-induced suicide and grandmother to a now motherless child

Dr. Ann Blake Tracy
Executive Director of the ICFDA
(http://www.drugawareness.org/home.html)
Author of Prozac: Pancaea or Pandora? Our Serotonin Nightmare

Xavier Jones
Recent Zoloft homicidal thinking survivor, and mother of three

======================================
Addendum

Blog and YouTube channel for Julie Edgington, whose son, Manie, was born with a life-threatening Paxil heart defect… (Julie has 5 kids, 4 of whom are healthy, but she took Paxil starting a couple of weeks before she became pregnant, and continued taking it during the first trimester of her pregnancy with Manie, her 4^th child, because doctors thought it was safe. She finally stopped the drug because it did not help and she did not feel right about using it during pregnancy.) You can also contact Julie at 319-234-3584 or email her at give2manie@yahoo.com
http://www.bigpharmavictim.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/jledgi

Moms in NJ (which has a similar law to the proposed MOTHERS Act) were treated like criminals for seeking help for PPD http://www.uniteforlife.org/ppdcriminals.htm

Our original press release with an addendum, which includes references to medical studies on dangers, including pregnancy dangers and suicide / homicide dangers, toxicity dangers, and articles on PPD alternatives, actual safely treatable causes, and prevention:

http://www.uniteforlife.org/MOTHERpress.htm

A lack of sufficient data to support the alleged safety of breastfeeding while using psychiatric drugs http://www.uniteforlife.org/breastfeeding.html

A decline in suicides since the FDA Black Box Warning http://www.uniteforlife.org/decline%20in%20sucicides.html

Lowest level of suicides in 30 years as prescriptions for antidepressants drop by half (England, Wales) http://www.uniteforlife.org/englandwales.htm

A Swedish study revealing that psychiatric drug use preceded about 80% of all adult suicides
http://ahrp.blogspot.com/2008/03/antidepressants-linked-to-52-of.html

Anticonvulsant drugs get slapped with black box warning for doubling suicides http://www.uniteforlife.org/socalledmoodstabilizersdoublesuicide.htm

Adrenal exhaustion as a cause of PPD (including information about thyroid conditions and the fact that antidepressants exacerbate adrenal problems): http://www.uniteforlife.org/adrenalppd.htm

Media coverage of the NEJM analysis revealing the data suppression and ineffectiveness of antidepressants http://www.uniteforlife.org/suppresseddata.htm

Flyer to use for massive advertising against the bill and to solicit petition signatures http://www.uniteforlife.org/flyermom.htm

An outreach letter that can be used for emails asking for support and endorsements of our efforts against this bill http://www.uniteforlife.org/requestforhelp.htm

Amy Philo’s YouTube Videos including her personal story of Zoloft-induced psychosis and homicidal and suicidal urges during the postpartum period:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQW23XCmOCw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4B8I_8wz6I


==================
Please read these excerpts from emails and blogs that we have found or received in the past few weeks:
================

 

“I was on very low dose Desyrel for depression during pregnancy. But when I got tired of being tired, I took myself off. A year later they put me on Prozac. I felt better, but began behaviors that distressed me. They told me that I needed it. I switched to Zoloft. Later to Paxil. Each time I tried to get off of it, I had what I later learned was withdrawal effects, but they told me it was proof I needed it. Later, when I heard someone tell my story about the withdrawal effects, I took myself off cold turkey, knowing that I would get through it. And I did. During these years on SSRI's, I was diagnosed with Type II Bipolar Disorder (mild mania). When I got off of SSRI's those symptoms disappeared. My relationship with my son was permanently damaged by my behavior, and horrible 'legal' things happened to me as the result of my drug induced behavior. The psychiatric community denies this is why, but recently, my doctor was looking for something for my panic attacks and some depression and said that she wouldn't put me back on SSRI's because of the manic symptoms they induced... this is the doctor, one of them, who denied the SSRI's were causing my problems! I still have panic attacks, but never had them before these medications. I had depression, but not these panic attacks...which now may be something I'm going to have to deal with ongoing.

 I can't believe what incredible suffering some supposedly "human" beings can perpetrate on other human beings...FOR PROFIT!!! It's a disgusting legacy of a culture of greed and indifference, and is the cause of U.S. interference and imperialism...greed, power, profit. They have no conscience, no shame...no humanity!!

The damage to my life was great...particularly to my relationship with my son, who has only known me with my behavior on those drugs...so, though we are close, and the relationship was loving and protective, I did behave badly at times. He has a lot of pain to deal with because of it...and it affects our relationship. It's a source of great pain, sorrow and shame for me. I didn't get off these drugs until he was out of the house at 18. He left before he graduated from high school.

I worked with a young woman going through a crisis, brand new mom... she was 3 months post partum... something horrible happened and they arrested her, took her away from her child... she never got her back. She already had mental problems, but what they did to her made it worse.

 Doctors and law enforcement are lazy and indifferent...really jaded... and they have stopped caring. They rely on what they think they know and what is expedient. So laws like this will make it worse.”
– Lucy

=================

Excerpts from The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey) 

December 9, 2007 Sunday
“Promised lifeline for new moms falls short
Postpartum depression law called a disappointment so far 
BYLINE: SUSAN K. LIVIO, STAR-LEDGER STAFF

…A `HORRIBLE' RESPONSE

 Maxine Garcia of Sayreville says that when she asked for help she got a response that left her stunned. Police officers and rescue squad workers arrived unannounced at her home last year, an hour after she called the hotline to say she was six months pregnant and "depressed out of my mind." According to the police report, Garcia threatened to hurt herself, but she denies it. She and her two children were forced to go to the emergency room. "I felt like I had no rights," Garcia said. "I really just needed someone to talk to."

 Yolanda Iyube of Franklin in Somerset County says she confided to her gynecologist two years ago she was consumed with scary thoughts about her baby dying violently. Before she left the office, a police-escorted social worker took her to the emergency room. "They brought me in a police car to the hospital. It was horrible - everyone was looking at me like I had committed a crime."

 Venis said such responses can discourage women with postpartum depression from seeking help.

 ...When the law took effect, there was an initial reluctance from physicians treating new mothers - a fear that "we won't be able to discharge anyone from the hospital," said Edward Wolf, vice chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.

 Wolf said the law added responsibilities for obstetricians already vulnerable to malpractice lawsuits. He said there was a fear of "I am going to get this thrown on my lap without help."”

===================
Excerpts from Julie’s blog (http://www.bigpharmavictim.blogspot.com/)

 

“Manie is 3 years old.

Was born with Transposition of the Great Arteries.

Had a balloon procedure shortly after birth to keep him alive.

Had open heart surgery at 1 week old.

Had 3 cardiac caths to correct problems with collaterals.

Has had several coils put in his collaterals.

Has a leak in his valve.

 

Manie has to take medicine for high blood pressure.

 

Manie has also suffered from acid reflux

Manie was on an adult dose of meds for acid reflux for six months.

Because of the acid reflux Manie has bad teeth. His baby teeth are ruined.

When Manie goes to the dentist he has to have dental work done with out Novocaine or nitrous oxide.

The reason why Manie was born with a congenital heart defect was because of my ingestion of an antidepressant while I was pregnant. I took Paxil within the first three months that I was pregnant with Manie. At the time that I was pregnant with Manie Paxil was a class C drug. Now Paxil is a class D drug.

What is a category D: Definite fetal risk, maybe given in spite of risk if needed in life-threatening conditions. What could be so important to risk a unborn baby's life? If something is life-threatening I would think a person should be under supervision as not to hurt them self or their unborn child. In Mosbys Drug Reference Paxil is a category B drug in 2003. Now I ask when did Glaxo know about paxil causing birth defects???????? Now that is a good question isn't it.

This is what I have to say to any one who is pregnant or could become pregnant. If you are depressed get help indeed. However please think about this... Wouldn't it be better to seek some other kind of help for your depression? I have been through having a child with a birth defect and I will always be going through it. I can never turn back the hands of time and not take that pill. Unlike you I did not know. I did not have a clue. Until recently I did not know why Manie was born with a heart defect. I looked and looked for a reason why and always came up with nothing. Until one day I found out that it was because I took paxil. The guilt I feel will never go away even though it was not my fault. If you think that you are depressed now wait until your life is flipped upside down when your baby is born with a horrible birth defect like Manie was. 

==========
Manie has three sisters and one brother. Manie is number four out of five kids. Manie loves to hunt frogs and go fishing. Manie loves being outside in the summer time. I had a normal pregnancy with Manie. I even had a couple of ultrasounds done while I was pregnant with Manie. There were no clues that Manie had a rare heart defect. I had already 3 perfectly healthy kids and did not expect for Manie to be any different.

As soon as Manie was born he began to turn blue. The more he cried the more he turned blue. Our doctor did not know what was wrong with Manie. The doctor thought that it might be his heart or his lungs.

Manie was flown to a hospital an hour and a half away from where we live. I had to stay at the hospital where I had Manie. The doctors called me when Manie arrived and told me Manie had transposition of the great arteries.

I was told that Manie had to have a procedure done to save his life. The doctors went through the artery on the inside of Manie's right leg. The doctors snaked a balloon all the way through the artery to Manie's heart. Once the doctors were in Manie's heart they blew the balloon up and ripped a hole in Manie's heart.

In the days following the surgery Manie's leg and foot started to turn a dark purple. The doctors told us that Manie may have to have his leg amputated because the procedure damaged the artery in Manie's leg.