Are we facing a future in which children will be wrongfully medicated, as parents, teachers, doctors, psychiatrists turn readily to chemical fixes as a substitute for understanding and resolving childhood distress through relationships and psycho-social interventions?  In Britain, and gradually in Ireland, there is a loud chorus of politicians, teachers, religious leaders, doctors, child- and parent-interest associations claiming that too many of our children are experiencing considerable stress, family conflict and even depression.  All sorts of credible reasons are being put forward for children’s inner and outer turmoil – inadequate child-rearing, lack of physical affection, family conflict, marital breakdown, unprecedented pressures at home and at school (parental ambitions, educational system that is driven by government-legislated school tests, lack of adventure in school classrooms).