New Florida Rules Advise Against Drugs for Depression, Anxiety for Kids
State guidance says psychotropic drugs should not be the first treatment for most children 5 to 17 with anxiety, depression or ADHD.
- On Friday, July 24, 2026, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo issued guidance recommending against psychotropic drugs for children ages 5 to 17, suggesting psychotherapy, physical activity, and dietary changes as alternatives.
- U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has campaigned to curb psychiatric overprescribing, launching a 'Make America Healthy Again' action plan in May that influenced Florida's new state guidelines.
- Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Shevaun Harris stated that psychotropic medications "should never be used as a substitute for individual therapy and other psychosocial care options" when clinically appropriate.
- Dr. Lawrence Bergman of Bergman Pediatrics warned that discouraging these prescriptions "would be setting pediatric mental health back years," noting moderate to severe cases warrant medication.
- The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry argues the guidance "broadly and imprecisely challenges established psychiatric diagnoses and evidence-based treatments," creating risks for children and families.
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Florida Warns on Psych Meds in Kids; Binge Drinking While Pregnant; ADHD in Females
(MedPage Today) -- Florida health officials released new guidance discouraging the use of psychiatric medications for children with anxiety, depression, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and behavioral disorders. A twice-daily dose...
Florida recommends against psychiatric medications for most children with depression, anxiety and ADHD
Florida Department of Health officials issued new guidance encouraging doctors to prioritize therapy and lifestyle changes over psychiatric prescriptions for children.
Florida Department Of Health Warns Against Prescribing Psychotropic Medications To Children And Teens
Florida health officials issued new guidelines discouraging doctors from prescribing psychotropic medications to children aged five to 17 for conditions like anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Aligning with federal Make America Healthy Again priorities, the state recommends therapy and behavioral intervention as primary treatments. Medical organizations like the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry are opposed. The post Florida Depart…
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