The Prescription Affliction : Why We Overmedicate Young Minds with Psychiatric Drugs—and How to Stop It

A groundbreaking exposé of how America’s mental health system is overmedicating children—and how families can reclaim a healthier path forward. In The Prescription Affliction, clinical psychologist Dr. Gretchen LeFever Watson delivers a powerful, evidence-based challenge to the prevailing narrative around youth mental health. Drawing on decades of research and firsthand clinical experience, she reveals how common diagnoses like ADHD and depression often trigger a cascade of escalating labels and psychotropic prescriptions—transforming otherwise healthy children into chronic psychiatric patients. Far from being anti-medication, this book equips parents, educators, and clinicians with the knowledge to make informed decisions and highlights effective, non-drug approaches that support long-term well-being.