On July 10, bipartisan congressional lawmakers gathered at the U.S. Capitol to advocate for MDMA as a therapeutic option for PTSD, aligning with activists who launched an art installation to honor military veterans lost to suicide. This event comes after the FDA advisory panel’s recent rejection of an MDMA-assisted therapy application. Representatives Lou Correa (D-CA), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) organized the event to highlight the urgent need for alternative treatments, including psychedelics. The ceremony featured 150,000 military dog tags, representing the veterans lost to suicide since 9/11. Lawmakers and veteran advocates used this as a symbol to highlight the PTSD and suicide crisis among veterans and the need for innovative therapeutic options like MDMA.
MDMA is a synthetic drug that alters mood and perception by increasing the activity of three brain chemicals: dopamine, which produces euphoria and increased energy; norepinephrine, which increases heart rate and blood pressure; and serotonin, which affects mood, appetite, sleep, and other functions. MDMA-assisted therapy is a treatment that combines the administration of MDMA with psychotherapy sessions. In a controlled therapeutic setting, patients receive MDMA in a few sessions interspersed with regular psychotherapy. MDMA helps patients process traumatic memories and emotions by reducing fear and enhancing trust during therapy. This form of therapy can be particularly effective for treating PTSD because it allows patients to confront and process their experiences without the overwhelming fear typically associated with these memories. Clinical trials have shown significant reductions in PTSD symptoms and improvements in overall mental health for many patients receiving MDMA-assisted therapy.
Luttrell criticized the FDA’s stance against MDMA-assisted therapy, stressing the need for the agency to acknowledge the scientific evidence supporting it. He shared his personal experience using psychedelic treatments for mental health, emphasizing that existing treatments vary in effectiveness for different individuals. He argued that MDMA could significantly enhance the quality of life for many veterans.
Bergman, a Vietnam War veteran, stressed the mental health crisis affecting veterans. He noted that psychedelic-assisted therapies could be a major advancement in treating veterans’ mental health issues. Bergman has met researchers and veterans who have benefited from these treatments, advocating for their broader approval.
The Democratic representatives were equally passionate in their stance. Correa, co-founder of the Congressional Psychedelic Advancing Therapy Caucus, called on the FDA to approve MDMA as a proven cure for PTSD. He pointed out that many veterans have to travel abroad for these treatments due to their unavailability and illegality in the U.S., which he views as a failure of the current system. Panetta highlighted the significant suicide rates among veterans, urging for a change in how PTSD and mental health issues are addressed.
Many veterans also shared why they felt so strongly about advocating for MDMA-assisted therapy. Juliana Mercer, a Marine Corps veteran and director of veteran advocacy for Healing Breakthrough, emphasized the national tragedy of veteran suicides and the lack of innovation in PTSD treatment over the past two decades. A Medal of Honor recipient, Dakota Meyer, spoke about his severe PTSD symptoms and the transformative potential of MDMA-assisted therapy. He stressed that while it is not a cure-all, it can significantly improve the lives of some individuals.
Dr. Barbara Rothbaum, a PTSD expert, noted that current FDA-approved medications for PTSD are insufficient. She highlighted the promising results of clinical trials combining MDMA with therapy, showing significant symptom reduction in participants. The founder of Heroic Hearts Project, Jesse Gould, a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans suffering from PTSD, also advocated for FDA approval of MDMA-assisted therapy, citing its effectiveness compared to other treatments. His organization has already helped many veterans, but he emphasized that millions more need access to these therapies.
The event aligned with a broader legislative push to support research and access to psychedelic-assisted therapies. House lawmakers have recently approved amendments to a spending bill that would allow VA doctors to recommend medical marijuana and support research into the benefits of psychedelics for veterans. This legislative effort aims to prompt real action within the federal bureaucracy to support these innovative treatments for veterans’ mental health issues.