President Trump Pardons Former Governor Rowland – Did Big Pharma Target Him for His Psychiatric Drug Ban?
Republished with permission from AbleChild
Recently Pardoned Former Governor John Rowland’s political downfall is often reduced to scandalous headlines about gifts and corruption, but the truth behind his resignation reveals a far more complex and troubling story—one that involves a fierce battle with Big Pharma, a controversial psychiatric drug ban for vulnerable children, and a corruption scandal that may not be as disconnected as it seems.
In the early 2000s, Governor Rowland took a rare and bold stand against the wrongful medication of children in state care by banning three powerful antipsychotic drugs from Connecticut’s drug formulary: Risperdal (risperidone), Zyprexa (olanzapine), and Seroquel (quetiapine). These medications were widely prescribed despite mounting evidence of severe side effects, including increased risks of suicide, diabetes, and violent behavior. The ban thrust Connecticut into the national spotlight when The New York Times ran a front-page article in 2004 exposing the widespread use—and potential dangers—of these psychiatric drugs in children under state supervision, sparking a nationwide conversation about the ethics and safety of medicating vulnerable youth.
That same year, National Public Radio (NPR) also covered Connecticut’s groundbreaking actions, highlighting the state’s efforts to protect children from inappropriate psychiatric drug use and the challenges faced in regulating these medications. The NPR coverage emphasized the growing concern over the off-label use of antipsychotics in children, the lack of adequate oversight, and the pushback from pharmaceutical companies.
Connecticut’s legislative and regulatory bodies responded with a six-month review of psychotropic medication use in children in state care, resulting in public acts aimed at establishing oversight mechanisms and protecting children from inappropriate drug use. This review was part of a broader effort to address systemic issues such as lack of informed consent and insufficient court approvals.
Across the country, states like New York, Florida, New Jersey, and Arkansas also made national news for confronting the rampant and often off-label use of antipsychotic medications in children in foster care. Investigations and lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly highlighted illegal marketing practices promoting these drugs for unapproved uses in children. Connecticut emerged as one of the front lines in this battle, with state legislators and child welfare agencies scrutinizing psychotropic drug use and seeking greater oversight and protections for children in care.
Rowland’s ban challenged powerful pharmaceutical interests. According to advocacy groups like AbleChild, representatives from Canadian pharmaceutical companies met with the governor behind closed doors, pressing him to reverse the decision. Within six months, the banned drugs were reinstated on the state formulary, raising urgent questions about the influence of Big Pharma on public health policy and the safety of children in care.
Shortly after the reversal, Rowland’s political career unraveled amid a federal corruption investigation focused on gifts he accepted—including a $3,600 hot tub installed at his lakeside cottage, cigars, champagne, and lavish vacations from friends and state contractors. While the official charges centered on these illicit gifts, the timing of the scandal and the rapid reinstatement of the psychiatric drugs invite a deeper, uncomfortable question: Were these events truly unrelated? Or was the corruption scandal a convenient smokescreen obscuring the high stakes battle over the health of Connecticut’s most vulnerable children?
Rowland initially denied accepting these gifts but later admitted guilt, leading to his resignation and a prison sentence. Yet, the story does not end there. Advocacy organizations like AbleChild have continued to expose systemic failures in the wrongful medication of children in state care—failures marked by lack of informed consent, absence of court oversight, and dangerous dosages. Their work underscores a broader crisis that Rowland’s ban briefly spotlighted before powerful forces pushed back.
This is not just a tale of political corruption; it is a stark reminder of how public health policy can be compromised by corporate power and political vulnerability. Governor Rowland’s real history challenges us to look beyond the surface, question who truly controls the fate of children in state care, and demand accountability from those entrusted to protect them.
As new light is shed on these intertwined events, the truth about Governor Rowland’s legacy—and the forces that shaped it—finally comes into focus.
Key Articles and Coverage on Connecticut’s Ban of Psychiatric Drugs in Children in State Care found below:
The New York Times, “Connecticut Bars Use of Psychiatric Drugs in Children” (2004) — Front-page coverage highlighting the state’s ban on Risperdal, Zyprexa, and Seroquel for children in state care, exposing widespread concerns about safety and overuse.
National Public Radio (NPR), “States Crack Down on Psychiatric Drug Use in Foster Children” (2004) — Reported on Connecticut’s pioneering efforts and challenges in regulating antipsychotic drug use in vulnerable youth populations.
Connecticut General Assembly, 2004 Legislative Review — Six-month review and subsequent public acts aimed at regulating psychotropic medication use among children in state custody.
First Focus Report, “Psychotropic Medication Use in Children on Medicaid” (2008) — Documented Connecticut’s legal and policy reforms amid national scrutiny of antipsychotic drug use in children.
CT Mirror and other state news outlets (2004–2015) — Ongoing coverage of Connecticut’s efforts to improve oversight and care for children receiving psychiatric medications.
AbleChild is a 501(3) C nonprofit organization and has recently co-written landmark legislation in Tennessee, setting a national precedent for transparency and accountability in the intersection of mental health, pharmaceutical practices, and public safety.
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The guy abmitted that he took the bribes. He shouldn’t be pardoned. It doesn’t make any difference who paid the bribes. He took them.
He may have “admitted” to taking bribes under duress of our wonderful court system. And big pharma may have set him up. We have seen the power of big pharma and do not abide by it. THEY need to be investigated for giving the bribe if it was indeed done.
Remote work isn’t just a trend, it’s the future of work. qs Work Remotely from your own house. We just want your typing skills, You can make more than 120USD/Hr. No matter where you are. Let’s Grow together and do great things, even if we’re far apart…
Take a Look……. https://post4boost33.blogspot.com/
It seems to me like he was set up by the “government drug industry” who lobbies in committee, and uses bribery, intimidation, coercion through statutes, and other ways. This is how the government drug industry and the American Bar Association pimps everybody through collective control, membership, and registration using created controversy, under the United States (the child company).
The example of this is in the Declaration of Independence (1) he has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
(2) he has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation.
The pharma mafia is jewish
Here’s alittle info on Rowland. When he was our Gov, he was making 80k/yr and he had to pay 40k/yr and child support and alimony, according to the article I read back then. So he was barely making a living as gov.
During this same period, I was dealing with an adopted child with mental illness. She was very violent then, but I held off on giving her psychiatric drugs because I was worried about what it would do to her cognitive development. She already had special needs, with a borderline IQ (70). I didn’t believe in medicating children. We went through hell because I held out during those years. Meanwhile, kids in group homes who don’t have psychiatric disorders were being medicated to keep them passive. I didn’t know. This is a terrible crime against healthy children. We did start to give our daughter medication later. As a teen, she first took an SSRI, which really helped her, until it gave her vertigo. We had to take her off that drug quickly, which caused a severe relapse, with lots of violence. Mom always gets blamed for such behaviors. It’s a real treat dealing with ignorant people while raising a chld with such problems. She later ended up on Seroquel, which has helped her enormously. It gives her a more normal life, as an adult, although it has caused weight gain. Believe me, if a person is truly crazy, it is better to be sane, fat and happy with Seroquel than miserable, violent and insufferable without medication. Such drugs are a gift from God for the truly mentally ill. Anyway, I have had misgivings about my decision not to medicate her when she was younger, but maybe I was right. As I said, we went through hell over my reluctance to give such drugs to a child, but this was a special case. She can’t be compared to most kids in state care, who are in good health. Giving them drugs would be wrong. That should never happen.
Based on your statement, you made absolutely the right decisions. Not all pharmaceutical drugs are bad. It is the pharmaceutical industry drug pushers, influencing the doctor’s prescription writing for profit, instead of doctors thinking for themselves. And you are a special gift from God, making all the right decisions.
The drug companies executives, past and present are guilty of manslaughter. They should all be prosecuted for every death related to their products.
The guy abmitted that he took the bribes. He shouldn’t be pardoned. It doesn’t make any difference who paid the bribes. He took them.
He may have “admitted” to taking bribes under duress of our wonderful court system. And big pharma may have set him up. We have seen the power of big pharma and do not abide by it. THEY need to be investigated for giving the bribe if it was indeed done.
Remote work isn’t just a trend, it’s the future of work. qs Work Remotely from your own house. We just want your typing skills, You can make more than 120USD/Hr. No matter where you are. Let’s Grow together and do great things, even if we’re far apart…
Take a Look……. https://post4boost33.blogspot.com/
It seems to me like he was set up by the “government drug industry” who lobbies in committee, and uses bribery, intimidation, coercion through statutes, and other ways. This is how the government drug industry and the American Bar Association pimps everybody through collective control, membership, and registration using created controversy, under the United States (the child company).
The example of this is in the Declaration of Independence (1) he has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
(2) he has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation.
The pharma mafia is jewish
Take your hatefull anti-semitism to hell when you go.
Here’s alittle info on Rowland. When he was our Gov, he was making 80k/yr and he had to pay 40k/yr and child support and alimony, according to the article I read back then. So he was barely making a living as gov.
During this same period, I was dealing with an adopted child with mental illness. She was very violent then, but I held off on giving her psychiatric drugs because I was worried about what it would do to her cognitive development. She already had special needs, with a borderline IQ (70). I didn’t believe in medicating children. We went through hell because I held out during those years. Meanwhile, kids in group homes who don’t have psychiatric disorders were being medicated to keep them passive. I didn’t know. This is a terrible crime against healthy children. We did start to give our daughter medication later. As a teen, she first took an SSRI, which really helped her, until it gave her vertigo. We had to take her off that drug quickly, which caused a severe relapse, with lots of violence. Mom always gets blamed for such behaviors. It’s a real treat dealing with ignorant people while raising a chld with such problems. She later ended up on Seroquel, which has helped her enormously. It gives her a more normal life, as an adult, although it has caused weight gain. Believe me, if a person is truly crazy, it is better to be sane, fat and happy with Seroquel than miserable, violent and insufferable without medication. Such drugs are a gift from God for the truly mentally ill. Anyway, I have had misgivings about my decision not to medicate her when she was younger, but maybe I was right. As I said, we went through hell over my reluctance to give such drugs to a child, but this was a special case. She can’t be compared to most kids in state care, who are in good health. Giving them drugs would be wrong. That should never happen.
Based on your statement, you made absolutely the right decisions. Not all pharmaceutical drugs are bad. It is the pharmaceutical industry drug pushers, influencing the doctor’s prescription writing for profit, instead of doctors thinking for themselves. And you are a special gift from God, making all the right decisions.
The drug companies executives, past and present are guilty of manslaughter. They should all be prosecuted for every death related to their products.
Take your hatefull anti-semitism to hell when you go.
Jared Polis and the Colorado legislature (see Bill 25-276) have just acted to protect the rights of “tren de aragua ” and MS13. All of them are acting as one to destroy the Colorado Tina, with unbelievable courage, tried to protect. The “Intolerable Acts” will not only continue but will slowly take even more of our freedom away. We must reclaim the constitutional rights that these demonic monsters denied Tina in her trial. They might think about adding denial of 6th Amendment. ( The right to a fair trial and the ability to call witnesses in your own defense. rb.gy/tzkwnx
Jared Polis and the Colorado legislature (see Bill 25-276) have just acted to protect the rights of “tren de aragua ” and MS13. All of them are acting as one to destroy the Colorado Tina, with unbelievable courage, tried to protect. The “Intolerable Acts” will not only continue but will slowly take even more of our freedom away. We must reclaim the constitutional rights that these demonic monsters denied Tina in her trial. They might think about adding denial of 6th Amendment. ( The right to a fair trial and the ability to call witnesses in your own defense. rb.gy/tzkwnx