RFK Jr. says he'll review SSRI use among kids — here’s what doctors say
RFK Jr. plans to investigate SSRI and antidepressant use, particularly among children and teens, as part of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement.
In his first meeting with staff, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday that he intends to address the possible overmedication of children and the risks of antidepressants, according to an employee in attendance.
The promise echoed an executive order that President Donald Trump issued last week establishing the Make America Healthy Again Commission, which he tasked with reducing chronic diseases, particularly among children. Trump made Kennedy the chair.
The commission’s agenda, per the order, includes looking into whether anti-depressants are being overprescribed to children; Trump asked for a report that assesses “the prevalence of and threat posed by the prescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.”
Known as SSRIs, this class of antidepressants increases levels of serotonin, a chemical messenger in the brain that can improve mood. It includes Lexapro, Prozac and Zoloft, which treat conditions like depression, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. Depending on the medical condition, some SSRIs are approved for children starting at ages 6 to 10, but they are far more commonly used by adults than minors.
In recent years, Kennedy has criticized what he sees as an overuse of these drugs, suggesting that they can be addictive and carry dangerous side effects.
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