The HHS secretary has characterized these drugs as highly addictive, potentially dangerous and overprescribed. They're heavily used here, our columnist reports.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch swears in Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as Health and Human Services Secretary as his wife Cheryl Hines holds the Bible in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Washington. (Photo/Alex Brandon)

Antidepressants can cause withdrawal symptoms if stopped abruptly, but they’re not addictive, and there’s no evidence that they lead to violent behavior, mental health experts say.