Ottawa keeps ADHD reports secret

Health Canada has detailed records of probes into ADHD drug safety, including fatalities, that it is keeping secret from the public.

Every six months to a year, drug companies submit summaries of side effects suspected to have been caused by their drugs worldwide, information Health Canada says it evaluates.

These summaries, called periodic safety update reports, are not available to the public.

They may contain personal or confidential business information, Health Canada said in an email to the Star.

That means parents of kids taking ADHD drugs are being kept in the dark about what the makers of these drugs are revealing to Health Canada about their safety.

Health Canada said the drug company reports can be requested under access to information legislation, adding details could be blacked out on a case-by-case basis if released.

Health Canada is claiming privileged information? How does that trump the health of my son? said Christopher Folz, a special-education teacher from Sault Ste. Marie whose 9-year-old son tried to hurt himself while on ADHD drugs Strattera and Biphentin.

Folz said his son suffered headaches last year that made him double over in pain and gag. Hes had these really troubling depressive outbursts in class where he has tried to stab himself with a pencil in his hand.

I know my own son. Hes not like that, Folz said. (The drugs are) damaging him, in my opinion. Im worried about him.

The Star learned of the drug company safety reports when asking Health Canada how it regulates the drug industry. The Stars questions were part of its investigation, published this week, that found nearly 600 cases of Canadian kids suffering serious, sometimes fatal side effects suspected to have been caused by ADHD medications in the past 10 years.

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Ottawa keeps ADHD reports secret