Nearly one in five families in New South Wales, Australia admitted that they give tranquilizing drugs to their children during long road trips by car, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.
“The driving survey, commissioned by insurer GIO, shone a light on the behaviour of 3700 parents, including 600 within NSW, who embark on extended road journeys,” reports the Herald. “While four in five families give youngsters hand-held computer games, including iPads, and 70 per cent keep treats up their sleeve, 18 per cent of NSW drivers admit to tranquillising their children with drugs that sedate – such as the antihistamine Phenergan – to make the journey more comfortable.”
A Children’s Hospital doctor tells the Herald, “In terms of sedation, this is an unpredictable drug. We would never recommend it for children on plane trips, car trips or wherever, because its side effects can trigger the exact opposite effect, including hallucinations. It’s a medication that really should only ever be used for allergies.”
A child psychologist calls the trend “extraordinary and horrible”.
One in 5 families admits to using sedative drugs, including Phenergan, on their children for a quieter life on road trips (Sydney Morning Herald, April 5, 2015)
