RFK Jr. plans to curb antidepressants, which he falsely compares to heroin

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a plan to reduce "overprescribing" of psychiatric medications and support alternative treatment options, while claiming antidepressants have withdrawal symptoms worse than heroin—assertions contradicted by medical evidence . The initiative includes new trainings, reimbursement mechanisms, and clinical guidelines to encourage clinicians to help patients discontinue medications and consider non-pharmaceutical alternatives like therapy and exercise . Kennedy has previously suggested SSRIs could be linked to school shootings and claimed these medications are more addictive than heroin, despite evidence to the contrary .

Source: Ars Technica | 2026-05-05