A New Initiative Focused on Children’s Health

At the heart of the new policy is the establishment of a commission aimed at dramatically reducing chronic disease rates among children while reassessing the impact of certain medications, chemicals, and environmental exposures.

The commission, which is slated to be chaired by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—who has been appointed as the US Health and Human Services Secretary—has been given a clear and ambitious mandate.

It is charged with evaluating the potential over-utilization of various medications, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants, and weight-loss drugs, all of which have become a significant part of the discussion around pediatric mental health treatment.

According to the executive order, the commission must produce an initial report within 100 days that details the current prescribing practices of these medications and assesses the associated risks they might pose to children’s health.

Following this, an additional 80 days are allotted for the commission to submit a comprehensive strategy with actionable recommendations to the federal government.