Veterans Day: Can Psychedelic Treatment Help Stem PTSD-Related Suicides Among Veterans?

An average of 17 veterans committed suicide per day in 2020 according to the Dept of Veterans Affairs. The percentage of veterans from conflicts in the Middle East who have experienced PTSD is nearly triple the number of those from the Vietnam War. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among veterans.

The national committee under the Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission has long advocated expanded clinical research into alternative treatments for mental health conditions like PTSD, particularly for conditions that do not respond to prescription drugs. The Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition and the nonprofit Reason for Hope have been looking at the science and research for the careful use of psychedelic treatments – psilocybin, ayahuasca, MDMA and ketamine to manage PTSD and reduce veteran suicide.

Studies have shown that psychedelic substances encourage the growth of new neural connections and enhance neuroplasticity to help enable patients to open up to difficult topics toward alleviating trauma symptoms. 

These types of substances can provide a deep transformative effect to be further explored within a supportive therapeutic environment ostensibly helping veterans confront, release and potentially alleviate their disabling emotions.

Psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA (commonly known as “ecstasy”) are categorized as controlled substances by the DEA and therefore get little government research funding or support.

That said, MDMA is advancing toward potential federal approval following a series of clinical studies. For example, among the study participants who received MDMA, 67% no longer qualified for PTSD diagnosis while 88% saw a clinically significant reduction in symptoms. FDA support for MDMA-assisted therapy may also stem from the heavy burden PTSD is having on the national economy in the form of some 870,000 disability payments going to diagnosed veterans amounting to $17 billion in annual federal expenditure.

See Also: New Research Program: Effects Of Psychedelic Group Ceremonies On Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury

Personal Anecdotes

Veterans have shared their personal testimonies in hearings at the state and federal levels wherein they discuss how these therapies have helped treat their PTSD and other treatment-resistant mental health conditions such as depression. The veterans have testified these substances have helped them transform feelings of deep despair into hope and clarity.

With these compounds listed as Schedule I substances, except for ketamine, 

veterans run the risk of breaking federal law unless they encounter them in a retreat framework or as part of government-approved clinical trials.

Cross-Country Advocacy And Reform

In the past several years, there have been consistent efforts toward expanding research into the potential treatment capabilities of psychedelic substances. 

In addition, advocacy groups and nonprofits such as Reason for Hope  V.E.T.S., Fireside Project and Heroic Hearts Project as well as the new American Psychedelic Practitioners Association have sprung up

See Also: Psychedelics Reform In California, Wisconsin, Illinois, Massachusetts & Pennsylvania

The mission to expand research and access to psychedelic-assisted therapy for those in need seems to be gaining ground. Some say it is plausible to hope that it will, with necessary government support, achieve success before long.

“There is nothing more important to VA than preventing veteran suicide — nothing,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “One veteran suicide is one too many, and VA will continue to use every tool at our disposal to prevent these tragedies and save veterans’ lives.” 

The VA has a new tool at its disposal: psychedelics. One hopes the organization will use it.

Photo courtesy of Tim Mossholder on Unsplash.