Alright, let’s talk about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s approach to psychiatric medications, particularly for ADHD—because, somehow, in a world full of pressing healthcare crises, he’s decided that this is the hill he wants to die on.

RFK Jr. has long been skeptical—deeply skeptical—of psychiatric medications, and not in a “let’s carefully examine Big Pharma’s influence” way, but more in a “what if we just threw out decades of medical research and went full 19th-century on this?” way. 

He’s suggested that antidepressants are linked to mass shootings—despite there being zero credible evidence to support this claim. That’s like saying car crashes are caused by airbags because they always seem to be there when an accident happens. Correlation is not causation, but try telling RFK Jr. that.

And when it comes to ADHD medication, his stance is even more concerning. His belief that these prescriptions are being handed out too freely isn’t just a mild policy concern—it’s part of a broader worldview that fundamentally distrusts modern psychiatric treatment. 

This is a man who wants to reduce access to ADHD medications while simultaneously expanding access to marijuana and psychedelics. So, just to clarify: your medically prescribed Adderall? Dangerous. But microdosing mushrooms to “connect with your inner child”? Absolutely fine.

Now, to be fair, we should always be open to alternative approaches to mental health – but this rhetoric fits into a long tradition of anti-science fearmongering around mental health treatments. The idea that ADHD is overdiagnosed, or that medications are some kind of widespread conspiracy, is a common trope among those who don’t actually understand how ADHD works. 

Meanwhile, doctors and researchers—you know, the people who actually study this stuff—have been clear that while overprescription can happen in some cases, ADHD medication is a lifeline for millions. These medications allow people to focus, function, and participate in daily life without constantly fighting their own brains. Taking them away doesn’t just “encourage alternative treatments”—it actively harms people who need them.

And let’s be real: there’s a massive hypocrisy at play here. Kennedy claims to want “more freedom” in healthcare, but what he’s actually pushing is less choice for people with psychiatric conditions. You should have access to psychedelics, but not a treatment that’s been clinically studied for decades? You can self-medicate with weed, but you can’t get your legally prescribed Vyvanse refilled without a fight? It’s like he’s trying to build a healthcare system based on his personal vibe rather than on science.

Medical professionals and advocacy groups have been sounding the alarm about the impact this could have. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) has warned that RFK Jr’s approach is based on misinformation and could put countless people at risk. Pediatricians and psychiatrists have pointed out that ADHD diagnoses are actually improving access to care for people who’ve historically been overlooked—especially women and people of color, who were often dismissed as just “distracted” or “lazy” when they were really struggling with undiagnosed ADHD.

So what’s the big picture here? RFK Jr.’s approach to psychiatric medication isn’t just about policy—it’s about pushing a worldview that fundamentally distrusts modern medicine while selectively – emphasis on selectively – embracing alternative treatments with far less scientific backing. If we let this kind of thinking dictate policy, we’re not just rolling back access to essential medications—we’re rolling back decades of progress in mental health care. 

And that’s not just bad news for people with ADHD—it’s bad news for anyone who believes healthcare decisions should be made by doctors, not by politicians with a podcast-level understanding of neuroscience.