A bipartisan coalition of 80 congressional lawmakers is pressing the federal government to expedite the approval of MDMA-assisted therapy for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially among veterans. The coalition, which includes 19 senators and 61 representatives, recently sent letters to the Biden administration and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), urging swift action on this promising treatment.
The letters emphasize that MDMA, which has been designated as a breakthrough therapy by the FDA, represents a significant advancement in PTSD treatment. Despite recent setbacks, including the rejection of an MDMA therapy application by an FDA advisory panel, lawmakers are advocating for a thorough review of the therapy’s potential benefits.
Led by Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), and Rand Paul (R-KY) in the Senate, and Reps. Jack Bergman (R-RI), Lou Correa (D-CA), Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) in the House, the coalition underscores the urgent need for new, effective therapies to address the PTSD crisis among veterans. They argue that MDMA-assisted therapy, supported by decades of research and clinical evidence, could offer relief to those struggling with severe mental health conditions.
The push follows recent legislative efforts to authorize medical marijuana recommendations for veterans and support psychedelics research. Lawmakers are calling on the FDA to uphold its rigorous standards while considering the transformative potential of MDMA therapy.
“MDMA-AT has shown enormous promise and is a potential game-changer for veterans suffering from PTSD,” said Rep. Luttrell, who has personal experience with psychedelic therapy. “We owe it to our veterans to explore and advance this innovative treatment.”
The coalition’s efforts reflect growing calls from veterans advocacy groups and bipartisan lawmakers to accelerate research and access to psychedelic-assisted therapies. The outcome of this push could significantly impact the future of PTSD treatment and veterans’ mental health care.
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