What Educators Should Know About Medication Use for Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

Psychotropic medications are increasingly being prescribed to school-age youth to address a variety of emotional and behavioral problems. In this article, we first provide an overview of these medications, their potential effects and side effects, and variables impacting their use. Prevalence of polypharmacy and rates of current and lifetime psychotropic medication use among children and adolescents are discussed. We then offer best practice recommendations for fostering positive, proactive, and productive relationships with caregivers and community-based agencies to improve multicomponent interventions that include medications.