Eighty members of Congress from both parties have come together to send letters to President Joe Biden and the US Food and Drug Administration, urging further consideration of studies on MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder. This bipartisan effort aims to accelerate access to a treatment that could potentially assist veterans.
The collective initiative is a plea for immediate action from the highest echelons of government to provide relief to the growing number of people suffering from PTSD, particularly among veterans facing an alarming increase in suicide rates.
According to estimates from the National Center for PTSD, about 5% of adults in the US, equivalent to 13 million individuals, experience PTSD each year. However, existing treatment options, such as antidepressants and certain forms of cognitive behavioral therapy, have limitations in terms of effectiveness and availability, especially for those who do not respond well to them.
One letter, spearheaded by Michigan GOP Rep. Jack Bergman and signed by 61 House members, emphasizes the urgent need for innovative treatment options for veterans experiencing PTSD. Another letter, endorsed by 19 senators, calls on the FDA to review the potential benefits of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.
The FDA is expected to make a decision on the use of MDMA to treat PTSD by August 11. While there are concerns regarding the trial data and safety of the treatment, bipartisan support for MDMA-assisted therapy is growing, particularly within the veteran community, which has been advocating for alternative therapies like MDMA-assisted therapy.
Dr. Shereef Elnahal, the VA Under Secretary for Health, has expressed optimism about the efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy based on preliminary results and veterans’ testimonies. The VA has also taken steps to prepare for the potential implementation of MDMA-assisted therapy, pending FDA approval.
In support of these efforts, a letter co-authored by 14 veteran service organizations and signed by 730 veterans highlights the potential of MDMA-assisted therapy to address the epidemic of veteran suicides and the urgent need for innovative treatment options.