The proportion of American adults taking anxiety medications has surged from 11.7% in 2019 to 14.3% in 2024, representing 8 million additional people and bringing the total to roughly 38 million, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey data. Most of this increase occurred during the COVID pandemic, with sharp rises among young adults, people with college degrees, and adults who identify as LGBTQ+.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Lexapro are front-line treatments for anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. Doctors and researchers emphasize these medications have been proved safe for extended use. A recent comprehensive study showed that over half of people with generalized anxiety disorder taking an SSRI saw their anxiety symptoms reduced by at least 50%, with side effects prompting about 1 in 12 to discontinue treatment.
However, supporters of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement have challenged SSRI use. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated during his January 29 confirmation hearing that he knows people, including family members, who had a tougher time quitting SSRIs than quitting heroin. He also reported his agency is studying a possible link between SSRI use and violent behavior like school shootings. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary suggested SSRI use among pregnant women could lead to poor birth outcomes. Psychiatrists counter that these statements lack evidence; studies show risks of taking SSRIs during pregnancy are low for mother and child, while depression itself increases complications.
Multiple factors explain the medication rise. Young adults, particularly during pandemic lockdowns, experienced heightened stress. Social media influencers discussing mental health struggles have eased stigma. Economic uncertainty and income inequality contribute to anxiety prevalence. More women than men take anxiety medications, partly because they report anxiety more readily and physicians identify it more readily in female patients. Beta-blockers such as propranolol are increasingly used for anxiety, though not FDA-approved for this purpose. Benzodiazepines like Xanax remain effective for short-term acute anxiety but are habit-forming over time and require careful monitoring.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anxiety-treatment-ssri-medications-rfk-jr/