Lawmakers Express Support for MDMA To Treat PTSD

Hold onto your stars and stripes, readers! It’s time to tackle a a critical topic — taking care of our veterans. But if you think this is another run-of-the-mill story about VA bureaucracy, buckle up. We’re diving into a controversial treatment that’s got Washington buzzing and could be a game-changer for our brave men and women in uniform. So, put down that coffee and let’s get to the heart of the matter.

The PTSD Crisis

The numbers are staggering. Our veterans, the very people who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms, are facing a crisis of epic proportions.

“Our country has a severe veteran suicide and PTSD crisis where 6,000 veterans die by suicide each year, with over 150,000 suicides since 9/11,” per a Senate letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert M. Califf. A total of 80 members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, have recently reached out to both President Joe Biden and the FDA about this serious issue. Notably, they are calling for the identification of treatments to help those with PTSD.

MDMA: From Party Drug to Potential Lifesaver

The letters come just days before the FDA is set to issue a decision on a particularly controversial treatment. MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, is being seriously considered as a treatment for PTSD. Yes, you read that right. The same substance that’s been the scourge of raves and electronic music festivals might just be the key to saving our veterans’ lives.

In a show of bipartisanship, 80 members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have united in letters urging Biden and the FDA to further consider studies on MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD https://t.co/0loHrjaEO1

— WKBT News 8 (@news8news) August 5, 2024

The Science and Support Behind MDMA-Assisted Therapy

This isn’t some half-baked idea. It’s a treatment that’s gaining serious traction in scientific circles and among lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

In a letter to Biden, House Members said, “If the data and evidence show it’s safe and effective, we owe it to veterans to make this treatment option available.”

Rep. Jack Bergman, a Republican from Michigan, didn’t mince words when he said in a statement, “The evidence is clear: MDMA-AT is a safe and effective form of therapy for our veterans who suffer from invisible wounds of service.”

Of course, not everyone’s on board with this idea. There are critics who argue against the use of MDMA. However, lawmakers arguing for the treatment feel that the objections come from a place of bias.

“It is our understanding that while these critics may be well-intentioned, their criticism is not necessarily reflective of the science, but rather their personal ideological beliefs and biases related to the medicalization of substances like MDMA,” House lawmakers argue.

The Path Forward: Will the FDA Give the Green Light?

The clock is ticking, and every day we delay could mean more lives lost. Rep. Morgan Luttrell, a Republican from Texas and a former Navy SEAL, says he has personally witnessed the potential of these treatments.

“I’ve traveled the country studying and researching these emerging therapies, and I have personally experienced the groundbreaking effects they can have,” Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, said.

However, it’s still unclear what the FDA will decide in this case. Notably, the agency’s adviser’s recommended that it deny the approval of the drug, and according to NPR, the FDA has a history of siding with its advisers in most cases. Whether the public push in its favor will hold any sway remains to be seen.