Anxiety Medication Use Surges: 38 Million Americans Now Treated

The proportion of American adults taking anxiety medications increased from 11.7% in 2019 to 14.3% in 2024, an increase of approximately 8 million people, bringing the total to roughly 38 million.

This rise, which experts attribute primarily to the COVID-19 pandemic, has coincided with a new federal initiative to reduce reliance on antidepressants and a growing public debate over the safety and efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

HHS Announces Antidepressant Reduction Plan

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a new plan to reduce the use of antidepressants, particularly SSRIs, at a mental health summit hosted by the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Institute. Kennedy argued that over-medicalization has created a dependency crisis.

In conjunction with the announcement, HHS issued a letter acknowledging that psychiatric medications can be essential but stressed they should not be the only option for treatment. The plan includes:

• Publishing new prescribing data and clinical guidance.
• Implementing billing changes by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand access to talk therapy and family support.
• Issuing new guidance from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to support safe tapering off medications.

Reactions from Medical and Mental Health Organizations

Mental health organizations and medical professionals have responded to the announcement with a mix of support for increased resources and caution regarding the framing.

"The framing of the issue is an oversimplification." — Dr. Theresa Miskimen Rivera, president of the American Psychiatric Association

Rivera expressed support for better training and increased research investment.

Dr. Vera Feuer, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Child Mind Institute, agreed with the need for careful assessment and medically supervised tapering, but noted that SSRIs help many patients.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) emphasized that a body of scientific evidence indicates antidepressants reduce suicide risk and are effective for treating depression.

The Debate Over SSRI Safety and Efficacy

The rising use of SSRIs, including medications such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Lexapro, has prompted increased public debate.

Criticisms and Concerns

• Secretary Kennedy has expressed concerns about the difficulty of discontinuing SSRIs and has initiated a study into potential links between psychiatric medications and violent behavior. Kennedy previously made unsubstantiated claims linking psychiatric medications to mass shootings.
• FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has suggested there may be a link between SSRI use during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes.
• Supporters of the MAHA movement contend that SSRIs are broadly harmful, linking rising anxiety to poor diet and sedentary lifestyles, and advocating for reduced consumption of ultraprocessed foods and increased exercise.

Medical Perspectives

Doctors and researchers state that SSRIs are frontline treatments for many anxiety disorders and are safe for extended use. Claims of SSRI addiction are not supported by evidence.

Patrick Kelly of the Southern California Psychiatric Society and psychiatrist Emily Wood report that:

• Over half of individuals with generalized anxiety disorder using an SSRI experienced at least a 50% reduction in symptoms.
• Approximately 1 in 12 stopped due to side effects (including upset stomach, brain fog, fatigue, and reduced libido).
• The risks of SSRI use during pregnancy are low, contrasting with the increased risks to both mother and baby from untreated depression.
• Healthy diet and exercise can serve as effective adjunctive therapies for anxiety and depression.
• Talk therapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) , is strongly recommended.

Demographic Trends in Medication Use

The increase in anxiety medication use has not been uniform across the population.

Contributing Factors

Physicians and researchers have identified several societal factors contributing to the increased use of anxiety medication:

Broader trends such as a decline in social and religious activities and a general increase in societal suspicion may contribute to the rising prevalence of anxiety across generations.

Key factors include:

• Increased social media use and greater social isolation
• Heightened economic uncertainty and growing income inequality
• Easier access to prescriptions through primary care physicians and telehealth appointments
• Reduced stigma surrounding mental health, particularly among younger populations
• The expansion of teletherapy, which also led to an increase in the use of mental health counseling from 2019 to 2024

Sociologist Jason Schnittker suggested these broader societal trends help explain the generational rise in anxiety.

Other Medications Used for Anxiety

Beyond SSRIs, other medications are used to treat anxiety:

Benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax)

• Effective for short-term acute anxiety
• Can be habit-forming and require careful monitoring

Beta-blockers (e.g., Propranolol)

• Used off-label to manage physical symptoms like a racing heart
• Non-addictive and considered safe
• Can cause dizziness and fatigue