Trump touted a new antidepressant as a solution for veterans. Only 15 have been treated
President Trump pressed the VA to buy the new depression treatment esketamine, touting its results as “incredible.” As of mid-December, just 15 veterans have been treated.
In August, President Trump proudly proclaimed that he had directed the Department of Veterans Affairs to buy “a lot” of a drug known as esketamine, the first new major depression treatment with a novel mechanism to hit the U.S. market in decades.
“Its results are incredible,” Trump said at a veterans convention in Kentucky. “I’ve instructed the top officials to go out and get as much of it as you can.”
As of mid-December, the VA had treated just 15 veterans across the country with the drug. The nasal spray, which was developed by Janssen and named Spravato, was only available
