HHS Secretary's SSRI Remarks Renew Focus on Pharmacists’ Role in Mental Health Care

During his Senate confirmation hearing in January 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr—then nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary—stated, “I know people, including members of my family, who’ve had a much worse time getting off of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs] than people have getting off of heroin,” reigniting public debate over antidepressant use and withdrawal symptoms.¹ Mental health clinicians have since emphasized a critical distinction between antidepressant discontinuation and addiction, noting that the 2 are not synonymous and that inaccurate comparisons could discourage patients from seeking treatment or adhering to prescribed regimens.²

SSRIs are among the most commonly prescribed drugs to treat depression and anxiety in the United States. Although these drugs are not considered controlled substances, stopping them abruptly can lead to antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, a transient cluster of symptoms—such as dizziness, insomnia, or flu-like feelings—that typically resolves with dose tapering.³ In comparison, addiction may mean requiring more of the drug to feel an effect or uncontrollable use. Health professionals worry that public misperceptions fueled by political statements could worsen stigma surrounding psychiatric medications and mental illness.

Clarifying Facts for Patients

For pharmacists, Kennedy’s remarks highlight the ongoing need to communicate evidence-based information about psychiatric medications. Pharmacists are often the most accessible health care professionals for patients beginning or discontinuing antidepressant therapy. Clear counseling on the difference between withdrawal and addiction, the importance of gradual tapering, and what symptoms to expect can help prevent abrupt discontinuation and relapse.

According to clinical guidance from the American Psychiatric Association, pharmacists can reinforce prescriber instructions by developing individualized tapering calendars and checking for concomitant drugs that may worsen discontinuation effects, such as other serotonergic agents or medications that influence CYP450 metabolism.⁴ They can also monitor for serotonin syndrome when patients use combinations of SSRIs with agents such as triptans, linezolid, or St. John’s wort.

Collaborative practice agreements (CPAs) may empower pharmacists to make dose adjustments or start a taper alongside a doctor’s supervision. In community practice, they are able to locate clients who try to stop the medication on their own and thus, prevent the occurrence of further complications. The involvement of the pharmacist can lead to the safety of medication and compliance, which are the keys to the favorable results of the psychiatric treatment.

Policy Shifts and Access Implications

Kennedy has proposed a significant restructuring of federal public health agencies, including the consolidation of severak offices.⁵ According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the consolidation aims to “break down artificial divisions between similar programs” and “increase operational efficiency” by unifying these agencies under one structure.³⁵ Critics warn that reduced federal funding could jeopardize programs that support mental health services nationwide. Pharmacists working in integrated care models, federally qualified health centers, or 340B programs may experience downstream effects if funding for medication access initiatives or behavioral health grants is curtailed.

Proponents claim that local pharmacies, which are already a core part of the health infrastructure, could, by providing screening, tele-health coordination, and medication therapy management for psychiatric patients, not only fill the void but also facilitate the delivery of the health services by the patients concerned. Leveraging these roles would be consistent with the current initiatives to facilitate the access to mental health services, as well as the safe use of psychotropic drugs under clinical supervision.

Conclusion

The debates over Kennedy’s remarks show the importance of trusted communication between patients and health professionals. To mitigate misinformation of the public, pharmacists can provide a guarantee that the use of antidepressants is safe and that they are non-addictive; however, patients should be carefully managed during the discontinuation phase. They can also support interprofessional collaboration to ensure continuity of care, especially as mental health policy and funding evolve.

REFERENCES

1. Gupta S. Fact check: RFK Jr. suggested that SSRIs are as addictive as heroin. Here’s why that’s wrong. Fast Company. February 19, 2025. Accessed October 9, 2025. https://www.fastcompany.com/91278730/rfk-jr-suggests-ssris-are-as-addictive-as-heroin-thats-wrong

2. NPR. RFK Jr. says antidepressants are addictive. Here’s what experts say. Published October 6, 2025. Accessed October 9, 2025. https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/10/06/nx-s1-5559217/rfk-jr-mental-health-substance-abuse-ssri

3. Fava GA, Gatti A, Belaise C, Guidi J, Offidani E. Withdrawal symptoms after selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation: a systematic review. Psychother Psychosom. 2015;84(2):72-81. doi:10.1159/000370338

4. American Psychiatric Association. Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder. 3rd ed. American Psychiatric Publishing; 2010. Accessed October 9, 2025. https://psychiatryonline.org/pb/assets/raw/sitewide/practice_guidelines/guidelines/mdd.pdf

5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HHS announces transformation to make America healthy again. Published March 27, 2025. Accessed October 9, 2025. https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/hhs-restructuring-doge.html