Ohio worker guilty of giving kids sleep supplement

[The Future]

Melatonin embedded in candy?     Jail time.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5geiGWbjb8cHAftkKR1PbqpnmIGfwD9HVD99G0

[Lady Lilya]

I know people who deliberately give their children melatonin for sleep issues.  But I understand that it could permanently change the brain to become dependent on it.  It is thought of as something to do for a very short time, or if very desperate. 

[MountainMeg]

My son uses melatonin for sleep issues related to the autism.  It is on the advice of his pediatric neurologists - both of them.  It was fun finding the right dosage at first.  Too little and he's up at 3am running around outside, too much and he's still sleepy at 10am  .

[opsec]

I wonder if melatonin would affect brain development in children because they are still growing. If so, then using melatonin may not be a problem for adults. Anybody know one way or the other?

[Lady Lilya]

I am pretty sure it is the same issue for both children and adults. 

Most of the people I know who give it to their kids have children with sensory processing issues that make it very difficult to wind down otherwise.