RFK Jr. plans to curb antidepressants, which he falsely compares to heroin
Summary
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Health Secretary, announced new federal efforts to reduce prescribing antidepressants, especially SSRIs. Experts say his claims, including comparisons of antidepressants to heroin and linking them to violence, are false and unsupported by research.Key Facts
- Kennedy made his announcement at the Make America Healthy Again Institute event focused on concerns about "overmedicalization."
- SSRIs like Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, and Lexapro are commonly prescribed for depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
- Kennedy has falsely claimed SSRIs cause violence and mass shootings, and that stopping them is harder than quitting heroin.
- Addiction experts say antidepressants and heroin have very different addiction risks; heroin addiction is far more severe.
- Withdrawal symptoms from SSRIs can occur but affect only a minority, and severe symptoms are rare.
- Kennedy repeated debunked claims during his January 2025 confirmation hearing and dismissed expert criticism.
- Research shows that misleading warnings about antidepressants in the past may have led to fewer people seeking treatment and more deaths.
- Experts warn that spreading incorrect information about antidepressants can be dangerous and potentially harmful to public health.
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