Hon. Daniel Pieper                                       14 March 2005
Circuit Court Judge
Ninth Judicial Circuit
100 Broad Street
Charleston, SC 29401-2287

 

Re: Christopher Pittman

 

Dear Hon. Pieper,

 

I don’t really know what to say, except I would think it would be obvious that a kid is a kid, and so I have less to say to you, than the prosecution.  I already reamed them, via email.

 

I am a pharmaceutical chemist, and I used to work for Pfizer, until I became too disabled from Lyme disease to work any more.  I worked in Method Development, so I had no active participation in drug development- only what went to the FDA in New Drug Application, and what went into the United States and European Pharmacopoeias, as far as testing drugs.  And really, testing anything that came our way. 

 

So I am quite familiar with what the FDA considers a valid pharmaceutical product.   There are quite a number on non-valid pharmaceutical products on the market, as is now common knowledge.  

 

All psychotropics are brain damaging, but these brain damage effects are called “Extrapyramidal Effects” and here is my company discussing their awareness of such:

 

J Psychopharmacol. 1998;12(2):192-214.

Related Articles, Links

SSRI-induced extrapyramidal side-effects and akathisia: implications for treatment.       Lane RM.

Pfizer Inc., New York, NY 10017, USA. laner@pfizer.com

The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may occasionally induce extrapyramidal side-effects (EPS) and/or akathisia.This may be a consequence of serotonergically-mediated inhibition of the dopaminergic system. Manifestations of these effects in patients may depend on predisposing factors such as the presence of psychomotor disturbance, a previous history of drug-induced akathisia and/or EPS, concurrent antidopaminergic and/or serotonergic therapy, recent monoamine oxidase inhibitor discontinuation, comorbid Parkinson's disease and possibly deficient cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzyme status. There is increasing awareness that there may be a distinct form of melancholic or endogenous depression with neurobiological underpinnings similar to those of disorders of the basal ganglia such as Parkinson's disease. Thus, it is not surprising that some individuals with depressive disorders appear to be susceptible to developing drug-induced EPS and/or akathisia. In addition, the propensity for the SSRIs to induce these effects in individual patients may vary within the drug class depending, for example, on their selectivity for serotonin relative to other monoamines, affinity for the 5-HT2C receptor, pharmacokinetic drug interaction potential with concomitantly administered neuroleptics and potential for accumulation due to a long half-life. The relative risk of EPS and akathisia associated with SSRIs have yet to be clearly established. The potential risks may be reduced by avoiding rapid and unnecessary dose titration. Furthermore, early recognition and appropriate management of EPS and/or akathisia is required to prevent the impact of these effects on patient compliance and subjective well-being. It is important that the rare occurrence of EPS in patients receiving SSRIs does not preclude their use in Parkinson's disease where their potentially significant role requires more systematic evaluation.       PMID: 9694033 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

What other proof do you need, than the company themselves saying, “HERE’S HOW TO COUNTERACT this SSRI-induced brain damage.”  Akathisia is psychomotor agitation.   AGITATION.   Is that a really too-complex word? 

 

 

A kid is a kid.   We don’t allow kids to drive, be a soldier, sign their own medical releases, work, vote, or make any other choices for themselves, including where to live, if their parents are abusive.

 

Chris’ parents were abusive.   Chris was triply victimized, by being then also called the “INSANE” one, and “treated” to more brain damage.  

 

This article will show you how terribly wrong it is to prosecute a kid and incarcerate them:

 

Psychol Med. 1982 Feb;12(1):61-72.

Related Articles, Links

Stereotypy in monkeys and humans.

Ridley RM, Baker HF.

Stereotyped movements are described in monkeys and humans and are classified as arising from constraint, sensory deprivation in infancy, amphetamine treatment or psychotic states. It is argued that, with the exception of cage stereotypies, stereotyped behaviour is evidence of abnormality in the nervous system consequent upon distorted maturational processes, organic defect or biochemical disturbance. Stereotypy is associated with a state of cognitive inflexibility and social and sensory isolation in humans and monkeys. It is suggested that, while no simple biochemical disturbance in the brain can describe these various occurrences of stereotypy, the cross-species occurrence of a syndrome of isolation, cognitive inflexibility and stereotypy implies a related mechanism mediating these divergent effects. If stereotypy is regarded as a consequence of failure to use sensory input to direct behaviour, therapeutic regimes designed to stimulate responsive behaviours and social interactions are more likely to be effective in the long run than direct attempts to suppress stereotypy. PMID: 6805001 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

You don’t victimize the victim, and you don’t incarcerate kids.  We have yet to prove “Corrections” is not an oxymoron, even for adults, since this article says it will make people worse, especially kids.  There are 155 articles related to that one, so we KNOW about how brain damaging deprivation alone is, on kids.  Shall we mention the abuse by the other prisoners and “corrections officers?”  This, too, is common knowledge. 

 

I watched this story in the news, and I just assumed the State would find that a kid is a kid.   I am so sorry I did nothing, while this went on, knowing better about psychotropics-induced brain damage, and the fact that children are children.  I thought that was common knowledge.  We have already legally defined childhood.  Parents can sign off on medical treatment.

 

I don’t get it.   Every day, I see more evidence that we grow “stupider,” as a country, inversely proportionate to the amount of scientific knowledge available to us.   I really am speechless.  Stunned.   

 

In the Name of God, the kid was 14.   He is entitled to a loving home.  He is entitled to LOVE.     Don’t we have kids so we can love them? 

Kids?     Love??      Remember ???           Hello?????

 

 

 

Kathleen M. Dickson

CC: Departments of Probation, Parole & Pardon Service
Attn: Parole Board Members, P. O. Box 50666, Columbia, SC 29250

Andy Vickery and Paul Waldner
Vickery & Waldner, LLP, One Riverway Drive, Suite 1150, Houston, TX 77056-1920

 

Governor Mark Sanford
Office of the Governor, P.O. Box 12267, Columbia, SC 29211


Mrs. George W. Bush

1600 Pennsylvania Ave, DC 20500