The Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) Florida applauds the Surgeon General and the Department of Health for taking action to protect children by recommending against the use of psychotropic drugs for childhood mental health labels such as depression, anxiety, and attention-deficit related disorders. The use of psychiatric drugs with children is something that CCHR has been decrying internationally since its founding in 1969. In the early 2000’s CCHR International launched the “Fight for Kids” campaign which is the longest-running campaign against coercive psychiatric treatment, including drugging of children in U.S. history.

The guidance states that the State Surgeon General recommends against the use of psychotropic drugs in children for treatment of those conditions and urges health care providers to pursue strategies to reduce psychotropic drug administration. The accompanying public-facing guidance also emphasizes ruling out underlying medical causes and the importance of physical activity, healthy diet, good sleep habits, and reduced screen time.

“These Florida documents are an important step in the right direction because they show that state health officials recognize the dangers of placing children on powerful mind-altering drugs for normal child behavior and normal reactions to adverse events in life,” said Diane Stein, President of CCHR Florida. “We applaud Florida’s Surgeon General and Department of Health for taking meaningful steps to protect Florida’s children by warning of these risks and promoting non-drug solutions first. At the same time, CCHR remains committed to the long-term goal of ensuring that children are supported with safe, humane approaches and are no longer routinely placed on psychotropic drugs in the name of treatment.”

The written guidance explains that many psychotropic drugs do not have FDA-approved labeling for children and cites concerns about long-term effects on brain development, insufficient evaluation of environmental stressors before pharmacotherapy, and the need for careful deprescribing when children are already taking these drugs.

CCHR Florida said the guidance reinforces what families have long argued: children should receive a full physical evaluation as a first course of action and non-drug approaches should be the first response to behavioral or emotional difficulties. The organization added that official acknowledgment of these risks should lead to broader reforms that strengthen parental rights, eliminate psychiatric labeling, and protect children from harmful drugs.

CCHR Florida has long advocated for informed consent, parental rights, and non-drug approaches for children facing emotional or behavioral challenges. The organization said Florida’s new direction should be the beginning of a broader effort to move away from the psychiatric drugging of children altogether.