The use of anti-anxiety medication in the United States is reaching record levels. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the share of adults taking these drugs increased from 11.7% in 2019 to 14.3% by 2024. This means an additional 8 million Americans have started treatment, bringing the total number to 38 million.
What caused the surge in antidepressant use?
Experts link the rise in anti-anxiety medication use to several interconnected factors. The COVID-19 pandemic played a decisive role, as the resulting isolation and stress had a serious impact on the population’s mental health.
Furthermore, the development of telemedicine and online consultations significantly simplified access to medication and the process of obtaining prescriptions. In parallel, the reduction of social stigma—especially among young people who no longer hesitate to discuss mental health on social media—has increased the number of people seeking help.
Added to this is growing social and economic uncertainty, income inequality, and a sense of isolation, which ultimately leads to a sharp increase in anxiety levels within society.
Political Controversy and the Dispute over SSRIs
Although the medical community considers Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)—such as Lexapro, Zoloft, and Prozac—to be the “gold standard” for treating anxiety and depression, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has questioned their widespread use.
Kennedy’s criticism is based on several assertions. He claims that quitting these medications is physically harder than overcoming a heroin addiction; moreover, he has instructed his department to investigate the link between psychotropic drugs and violent attacks in schools.
These allegations quickly drew a response from psychiatrists and researchers. Specialists explain that Kennedy’s statements lack scientific evidence. They clarify that the term “addiction” is irrelevant in the case of SSRIs because these drugs do not produce euphoria or a compulsive craving for the substance. While abruptly stopping the medication may cause temporary discomfort (known as withdrawal syndrome), this is a common biological reaction and not a narcotic addiction.
Regarding the link to violence, years of observation show that medication, on the contrary, significantly reduces the risks of aggression and self-harm in patients.
Different Perspectives on Solutions
Ultimately, supporters of the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement attribute the rise in anxiety to poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and excessive screen time. They see the solution in natural products and lifestyle changes.
Psychiatrists agree on the importance of a healthy lifestyle but emphasize that replacing medication with diet alone in severe cases is dangerous. The period of pregnancy is particularly noteworthy: specialists state that untreated depression poses a greater risk to the mother than modern medications.
