The psychiatric drug industry and Big Tobacco share striking similarities in their tactics, particularly when it comes to downplaying the risks associated with their products and targeting vulnerable populations like youths. The psychiatric community has gotten away with pretending it is based in science and medicine to sell its snake oil, whereas the tobacco industry wasn’t so lucky.

A key difference lies in the government's stance — whereas tobacco companies face increasing regulations and warnings, the psychiatric drug industry enjoys substantial government support and promotion despite the existence of black box warnings on many of its medications. Both industries have a history of misleading marketing practices and minimizing potential harms.

Big tobacco companies notoriously concealed for decades evidence linking smoking to lung cancer and other diseases. Similarly, psychiatric drug manufacturers have been accused of selectively publishing favorable trial data and underreporting adverse effects.

Despite black box warnings — the FDA's strongest safety alert — on many psychiatric medications, Big Pharma’s marketing often portrays an overly rosy picture. A prime example is antidepressants carrying a black box warning about increased suicidality risk in youth. Yet these drugs continue to be heavily promoted, with limited emphasis on this severe side-effect. Worse yet, antidepressants are not........

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