When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. answered questions about his stances on antidepressants at a recent US Senate confirmation hearing before becoming US Health and Human Services secretary, he sparked discussion on whether the medications are as addictive as some commonly abused drugs.
“I know people, including members of my family, who’ve had a much worse time getting off of SSRIs than people have getting off of heroin,” Kennedy said during the January 29 hearing, referring to the class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Kennedy told committee members that he was addicted to heroin for 14 years when he was younger and has been in recovery for 42 years.
Are antidepressants addictive? The short answer is no, say experts who spoke with CNN. There are differences between addiction to (addictive) drugs and a dependency on medications that treat mental health disorders, they said.
What is true, and what Kennedy seemed to be getting at during the hearing, is that some people experience difficult withdrawal symptoms when quitting antidepressants. There are a few reasons why, but it’s not because they’re addicted to antidepressants, experts said.
How we communicate about medications is important not only for the purpose of accuracy but also so as not to contribute to the stigma that can prevent people from seeking help for mental health problems, said Dr. Gail Saltz, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.
Experts explain that addictive drugs provide intense reward through the brain’s dopamine system, while antidepressants primarily target serotonin and do not create the same reward-seeking behavior. Withdrawal from antidepressants can be difficult for some, but it is not the same as addiction. Gradual tapering under medical supervision is recommended for those looking to stop taking antidepressants.
