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Ask Dr. Drew

Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring: Is Rising Violence Fueled By SSRI Drugs Meant to Fix It? + How Leland Vittert Tackled Autism & Became A NewsNation TV Anchor – Ask Dr. Drew – Ep 541

Ask Dr. Drew

Dr. Drew

Health & Fitness, News Commentary, News, Politics

4.7759 Ratings

🗓️ 11 October 2025

⏱️ 71 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Is the mental health crisis fueled by drugs meant to fix it? Despite a 450% surge in antidepressant use, mental health outcomes are worsening especially among young adults. Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring, a psychiatrist and expert on drug-tapering, warns SSRIs may be linked to rising violence. Dr. Witt-Doerring points to FDA corruption and psychiatry’s focus on quick-fix prescriptions over root-cause care, like nutrition and trauma support. He critiques lifelong drug reliance and severe withdrawal effects, pushing for reforms including better informed consent and integrating life skills into treatment to address the spiraling crisis. Leland Vittert is host of On Balance with Leland Vittert and NewsNation’s chief Washington anchor. When Leland was diagnosed with autism, his father quit his job to coach him full-time in social skills and humor. Later, Leland became a foreign correspondent and anchor at Fox News before getting his own show on NewsNation. He tells his story in the book “Born Lucky: A Dedicated Father, A Grateful Son, and My Journey with Autism“. Learn more at https://bornluckybook.com and https://x.com/lelandvittert Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring is a board-certified psychiatrist and former FDA medical officer. As Medical Director of TaperClinic, he specializes in safe de-prescription of psychiatric medications and recovery from psychiatric drug injury. He previously worked for Janssen Pharmaceuticals (Johnson & Johnson) and the FDA. Follow at https://x.com/drjosefWD NOTE: Suddenly stopping mental health medications may cause dangerous side effects or withdrawals. Only start or stop these medications under the direction of your physician. 「 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 」 Find out more about the brands that make this show possible and get special discounts on Dr. Drew's favorite products at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drdrew.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• FATTY15 – The future of essential fatty acids is here! Strengthen your cells against age-related breakdown with Fatty15. Get 15% off a 90-day Starter Kit Subscription at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drdrew.com/fatty15⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • PALEOVALLEY - "Paleovalley has a wide variety of extraordinary products that are both healthful and delicious,” says Dr. Drew. "I am a huge fan of this brand and know you'll love it too!” Get 15% off your first order at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drdrew.com/paleovalley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • VSHREDMD – Formulated by Dr. Drew: The Science of Cellular Health + World-Class Training Programs, Premium Content, and 1-1 Training with Certified V Shred Coaches! More at https://drdrew.com/vshredmd • THE WELLNESS COMPANY - Counteract harmful spike proteins with TWC's Signature Series Spike Support Formula containing nattokinase and selenium. Learn more about TWC's supplements at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twc.health/drew⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 「 MEDICAL NOTE 」 Portions of this program may examine countervailing views on important medical issues. Always consult your physician before making any decisions about your health. 「 ABOUT THE SHOW 」 Ask Dr. Drew is produced by Kaleb Nation (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kalebnation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Susan Pinsky (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/firstladyoflov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠e⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). This show is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

All right, Leland Vittert is the host of On Balance with Leland Vittert on News Nation.

0:09.4

He is a Washington anchor and he was diagnosed with autism and his father dedicated himself to supporting his son such a way that he could manage those symptoms. I won't take away the glory

0:24.2

that his book will tell you about. The book is Born Lucky, a dedicated father, a grateful son, and my journey with autism.

0:31.3

You can follow Leland on X at Leland L-A-N-D,

0:35.0

V-I-T-T-E-R-T-E-R-T and NewsNation Now.com

0:38.9

and born-luckybook.com.

0:40.7

And then we're going to be Leland L-A-N-D, V-I-T-E-T-E-R-T-E-R-T, and NewsNation Now.com and Born-Lucky Book.com.

0:43.7

And then we're going to be joined by Joseph Vitt Dering.

0:49.6

He is a psychiatrist who's raising issues about some of the controversies in psychiatry,

0:50.8

which there are many.

0:56.3

You can follow him on X, Dr. Joseph, J-O-S-E-F-W-D.

0:57.7

Back after this.

1:03.9

Our laws as it pertain to substances are draconian and bizarre.

1:05.2

The psychopaths start this right.

1:09.8

He was an alcoholic because of social media and pornography, PTSD, love addiction.

1:10.7

Fentanyl and heroin. Ridiculous. I'm a doctor for, I say, where the hell you think I learned that? I'm just saying, you go to treatment before you kill people. I am a clinician. I observe things about these chemicals. Let's just deal with what's real. We used to get these calls on Loveland all the time, educate adolescents, and to prevent and to treat. Do you have trouble?

1:27.9

You can't stop and you want to help stop it.

1:29.6

I can help.

1:30.2

I got a lot to say.

1:31.4

I got a lot more to say.

1:37.7

I'm excited to bring you a new product, a new supplement, fatty.

1:46.1

I take it.

...

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