Hope Persists, Despite MDMA Setback

The recent Food and Drug Administration decision to reject MDMA-assisted therapy is unquestionably a loss for veterans. It’s been more than 20 years since the FDA cleared a new medication for post-traumatic stress disorder, leaving veterans with less-than-stellar treatment options that many say merely mask the condition.

We can’t accept a status quo that’s failing far too many. The two FDA-approved medications are not universally effective. While these products can reduce the severity of symptoms, they do not address the foundation of trauma the way effective therapy can.

What’s perplexing is that in 2017, the FDA designated MDMA as a “breakthrough therapy.” The demonstrated clinical evidence quickly became a beacon of hope for those living with PTSD. In one study involving veterans and first responders, nearly two-thirds of its participants no longer met the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis after receiving the treatment.

However, that encouragement dimmed this year when an FDA advisory committee declined to recommend MDMA-assisted therapy as a viable treatment. While the panelists questioned the science and motivations of the individuals who conducted the research, the experience of those who live with PTSD each day seemed to be a distant afterthought.

Sadly, the FDA adopted the recommendation of the advisory committee, shutting the door on what was once an encouraging medical intervention.

When many people hear MDMA, their mind conjures up disturbing images of addiction, recreational use and abuse. However, we must consider the other part of the equation: therapy. It is the therapy that does the heavy lifting, but discussing the worst days of our lives proves to be an immense challenge. If only there were something that made the hard work of therapy easier. That’s the promise of MDMA.

Still, hope remains. While the FDA rejected this treatment, it asked for further study of the safety and efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy—something DAV strongly supports.

The recent explosion in science regarding psychedelics and their potential healing powers is why our members approved DAV’s first-ever psychedelics resolution at our recent national convention in Phoenix. This thoughtful step DAV members took unlocks our ability to push the Department of Veterans Affairs to investigate these compounds and advocate before Congress to make psychedelic treatments available.

When veterans return from service, they deserve world-class health care and the most effective treatment options. Our nation owes a debt to the men and women who served, one that can never be paid in full. But that shouldn’t stop us from turning over every stone in the pursuit of finding new answers to PTSD.