Prescription drug abuse protest
A group of people were seen protesting in front the Santa Barbara Courthouse over what they call abuses of anti-psychotic drugs.
The demonstrators say some nursing homes and assisted living facilities are abusing certain drugs, commonly prescribed as sedatives. The anti-psychotic drugs include Seroquel, Zyprexa and Haldol, commonly used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression.
The concern is that these drugs are being more frequently prescribed for the elderly, often times without the doctor even seeing the patient. Those protesting saythe use of thesedrugs causes more harm than good.
NewsChannel 3 reporter Shirin Rajaee spoke to both sides of this controversial issue.
