Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
New Study Finds 'Exciting' Result In MDMA Treatment For PTSD: It's Safe
Stat: MDMA Is Safe And Effective Treatment For PTSD, Says New Study
MDMA is a safe and effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in a racially and ethnically diverse population, according to the results of a study published Thursday in Nature Medicine. The research adds to the growing body of evidence supporting MDMA as a treatment for PTSD, and brings the psychedelic one step closer to potentially becoming the first to obtain Food and Drug Administration approval. (Merelli, 9/14)
The New York Times: MDMA Therapy For PTSD Inches Closer To U.S. Approval
MDMA, also known as Ecstasy or Molly, has been an illegal substance since 1985, when the Drug Enforcement Administration classified it as a Schedule 1 drug, placing it in the highest category for controlled drugs that the agency deems of no medical use and that have a high potential for abuse. Before that, MDMA was administered by an estimated hundreds of therapists in North America and Europe for couples counseling, personal growth and to address trauma. (Nuwer, 9/14)
Also —
KCRW: Magic Mushrooms Might Soon Be Legal In California. Who Benefits?
Psychedelics have been getting a lot of attention recently. As the drug war cools down and the stigma dissipates, new research has revealed the potential of these substances to support transformational mental health care. The state of Oregon and the cities of Santa Cruz and Oakland have already decriminalized certain psychedelics, and a new bill that just passed the California legislature would do the same in the Golden State. (Reed, 9/12)
AP: Magic Mushrooms: Thousands Sign Up For Oregon's Psilocybin Experiment
Psilocybin tea, wind chimes and a tie-dye mattress await those coming to an office suite in Eugene to trip on magic mushrooms. For roughly six hours, adults over 21 can experience what many users describe as vivid geometric shapes, a loss of identity and a oneness with the universe. Epic Healing Eugene — Oregon’s first licensed psilocybin service center — opened in June, marking the state’s unprecedented step in offering the mind-bending drug to the public. The center now has a waitlist of more than 3,000 names, including people with depression, PTSD or end-of-life dread. (Selsky, 9/15)
Big Think: How Psychedelics May Therapeutically Alter The Link Between Your Two “Selves”
Interoception, the body's sense of its internal state, might be key to understanding consciousness and the benefits of psychedelic therapy. (Brigs, 9/13)
