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Juvenile offenders: criminals or victims of Standard American Diet?
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The New York Times recently published an article about mentally ill juvenile offenders putting a strain on the country's prison system. It brings up a few very good questions- why are these kids being treated as criminals if they are in fact mentally incapable of controlling their own behavior? Why are mental ailments such as bipolar disorder and depression on the rise in our youth, and what should be done to prevent/treat these conditions?
In the prison system, the mentally ill are fed a regimin of drugs designed to control their behavior, such as Risperdal to control a violent temper, Trazondone for depression, or Ambien to make them sleep. Often the combination of these drugs produces a greater problem than the one for which the youth was originally incarcerated.
Why are mental health issues on the rise in our young people? Since the World Health Organization has stated that mental health problems are becoming the number one heath issue of the 21st century, it's worth taking a look at what has changed in our society to bring about such a crisis. While factors that contribute to mental health such as genetics and environmental influence have remained relatively steady over the past few generations, it can't be denied that the American diet has changed dramatically. Recent research has revealed a link between the Standard American Diet and mental health issues.
In a study of 8000 incarcerated juveniles, Dr. Stephen J. Schoenthatler, Ph. D. had the high sugar and refined carbohydrate diet in nine correctional facilities replaced with one rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. During the year in which the diet changes were in effect, violent and antisocial incidents were decreased by almost half. This is just one of a multitude of studies which have produced similar results.
If nutritional deficiencies and imbalances can impair brain function and lay the groundwork for delinquent and criminal behavior, what steps could be taken to set up our at-risk youth for success? Could changes in public school lunches, or parent nutrition education programs hold the answer? Or, should we continue to put our young people at risk while the pharmaceutical and junk food companies rake in their profits?
The best choice seems obvious.
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