Miriam Putnam urges a shift away from psychotropic drugs for children

By AI, Created 11:08 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Wellness coach Miriam Putnam is warning that rising psychotropic prescriptions for U.S. children are masking deeper health and behavioral issues. She is pushing families, educators and policymakers to focus on sleep, nutrition, exercise and other root-cause interventions instead.

Why it matters: - Putnam says children’s mental health is being treated too quickly with medication instead of addressing stress, trauma and other underlying needs. - She argues that more natural interventions could reduce symptoms without exposing children to lifelong drug use. - The debate matters for families, schools and health providers as diagnoses and prescriptions continue to climb.

What happened: - Holistic mental health coach Miriam Putnam called for a shift toward root-cause approaches to children’s behavioral and emotional challenges. - Putnam made the comments in a May 6, 2026 press release from Los Angeles. - She said psychotropic medication is often used as a first-line response rather than a last resort. - Putnam urged parents and policymakers to explore holistic wellness options instead of defaulting to psychiatric drugs.

The details: - Putnam said foundational health factors should be addressed first, including consistent sleep, proper nutrition, exercise, comprehensive blood testing, open communication and understanding. - She said families should ask whether a child’s body is healthy and what the child is trying to express before medication is started. - Putnam pointed to environmental instability and lifestyle imbalances as possible contributors to mental and emotional struggles. - She said addressing root causes can produce more sustainable long-term improvements. - Putnam also cited concerns raised in national discussions, watchdog reports and federal agency investigations about overprescription and weak oversight. - A new investigation from CCHR International, based on multi-state FOIA data, says millions of children on Medicaid, including toddlers, are being prescribed psychiatric drugs. - The release says Putnam is available for interviews. - More information is available at Miriam Putnam’s website.

Between the lines: - Putnam’s message reflects a broader skepticism among some wellness advocates about psychiatric medication as a default treatment for children. - The release leans heavily on prevention, family involvement and lifestyle change, framing them as safer than medication. - The mention of watchdog groups, federal scrutiny and the CCHR investigation suggests the issue is being positioned as both a health and oversight problem.

What’s next: - Putnam is pressing for stricter regulation, more access to non-pharmaceutical interventions and greater transparency around prescribing decisions. - She is also urging parents, educators and healthcare providers to build more support around sleep, diet and emotional expression. - The release says the goal is to help children receive care that is more natural, sustainable and rooted in underlying causes.

The bottom line: - Putnam is arguing that children’s mental health care should start with root causes, not psychotropic prescriptions.