We Need to Talk About the Fenfluramine Study
Psychology Today
by Rupinder K. Legha M.D.February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
A shocking study from the 1990s has come to light, revealing unethical experiments conducted on Black and Hispanic boys in New York City. Researchers injected these young participants with fenfluramine, a banned diet drug linked to serious heart conditions, under the guise of studying violence risk. The boys, aged 6 to 10, were recruited from juvenile court records, and their families received minimal compensation for their involvement. Despite public outcry and accusations of misleading consent forms, no wrongdoing was found by federal investigators, and the researchers faced no sanctions. Their findings were published in top journals, perpetuating a system that failed to address structural violence or systemic racism.
The study targeted minority children, exploiting racial stereotypes about behavior and aggression while ignoring broader societal factors like poverty and discrimination. This occurred during the peak of the War on Drugs, when harmful narratives about “superpredators” were used to justify harsher policing and incarceration policies. By focusing on individual risk rather than structural causes, the researchers perpetuated a cycle of criminalization for Black and Latinx youth.
This historical injustice highlights critical gaps in mental health care and research ethics. Psychiatrists today must confront this legacy to ensure equitable treatment for marginalized communities. The study underscores how systemic racism has shaped medical practices, often harming those it aims to help. For readers concerned with health equity and justice, this story serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address historical and ongoing biases in mental health care.
The fenfluramine study is not just a relic of the past—it reflects a broader failure of the mental health field to acknowledge its role in perpetuating racial inequities. By understanding these injustices, we can work toward a future where medical research prioritizes ethical integrity and equity for all patients, regardless of race or background.
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Originally published on Psychology Today on 2/25/2026