America's Medicated Kids is a British documentary film presented by Louis Theroux, first broadcast on BBC Two on 18 April 2010. The documentary runs for 59 minutes and was produced and written by Theroux.
Synopsis
The documentary follows Louis Theroux as he travels to one of the United States' leading children's psychiatric treatment centres, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The film investigates the growing trend of parents turning to psychoactive prescription medication to manage the challenging behaviour of children diagnosed with mental health disorders. Theroux examines the effects of such medication on the children and the broader impact on their families.
Production
The documentary was written by Louis Theroux, who also served as producer and star. It was produced in the United Kingdom in the English language.
Release
The documentary was originally televised on 18 April 2010 on BBC Two.
Ratings
Upon its initial broadcast, America's Medicated Kids attracted an audience of approximately 2.098 million viewers, representing an 8.1% share of the audience in its 9:00 pm time slot.
Reception
The documentary received mostly positive responses from critics. Euan Ferguson of The Observer (18 April 2010) reviewed the film favourably. Archie Bland of The Independent (19 April 2010) also provided a positive assessment. The documentary was noted for its sensitive handling of a controversial subject, including the use of diagnoses such as paediatric bipolar disorder and oppositional defiant disorder.
External Links
- America's Medicated Kids at IMDb
