Last week, Congress approved a defense spending bill that will fund military research and clinical trials of cannabis, psilocybin and other psychedelic drugs to determine their effectiveness in treating service members and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Adoption of section 723 Law on Authorization for National Defense (NDAA) would allow members of the military to undergo psychedelic therapy and provide $10 million to explore this option as a new approach to mental health treatment.
Details about the new draft law
Back in June, the Senate Appropriations Committee proposed military spending bill , which contains several requests for the 2024 military construction budget. Among these requests was an important directive to expand research into the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics. The committee urged the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to investigate the potential of these substances to treat various health conditions common among veterans, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and chronic pain. This directive was a crucial component of a broader approach to treating veterans' mental health through psychedelic therapy.
NDAA funding will allow researchers to continue researching psychedelics and other "qualified" natural therapies, such as cannabis, as treatment options for service members with mental illness. Although psychedelics and marijuana are federal laws, active-duty military personnel will be able to participate in clinical research without breaking the law if they are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and receive clearance from the Department of Defense.
Clinics involved in psychedelic research must discuss their findings with Congress and include details about treatment outcomes and participants' medical conditions. The results of these funded studies will further contribute to medical knowledge regarding the possibility of using these drugs as an alternative treatment for PSTD and TBI. The positive results could potentially change federal policy on the medical use of psychedelics and cannabis.
Results of previous studies
A number of previous research findings have shown a promising link between psychedelics and their therapeutic potential, particularly for those suffering from severe PTSD symptoms. Recent studies have mainly focused on the medical value of MDMA and psilocybin, which have shown significant results in clinical trials.
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is actively studying MDMA therapy for PTSD. In its phase 3 study MAPS was informed , that participants treated with MDMA experienced improvements in PTSD symptoms for at least six months, and in some cases significantly longer, after treatment. These results demonstrate the long-term potential of MDMA therapy, particularly for those with treatment-resistant PTSD. In 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated MDMA as a Breakthrough Therapy, recognizing its potential effectiveness in the treatment of PTSD. This designation will accelerate treatment research, possibly leading to MDMA becoming an approved and regulated drug before 2024 year .
Similarly, psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, has gained "breakthrough therapy" status because of its therapeutic potential for treatment-resistant depression. Psilocybin has been studied for a variety of mental health disorders and has been found to potentially help rewire the mind by increasing brain connectivity and disrupting long-standing neural patterns of self-focus and rumination. It was shown, that psilocybin reduces neural connections in areas of the brain closely associated with depression, and also increases the connectivity of networks in other regions that were not properly integrated. Additionally, psilocybin and other serotonergic psychedelics can affect 5-HT2A receptors in the brain, allowing the brain to reorganize in the days and weeks following treatment so that patients can experience changes in their thinking patterns and emotional processing.
In addition to treating psychiatric disorders, psychedelics may also offer significant benefit in the treatment of TBI due to their ability to affect neural pathways. When the brain has experienced severe physical trauma, these pathways can be significantly disrupted and negatively impact emotional regulation, cognitive function, and overall brain health. Recent studies discovered, that some psychedelics can help improve these TBI symptoms and help the brain recover from the injury by reducing excessive neuroinflammation. Although there is not much research on the effects of psychedelics on TBI, the results of military trials may contribute to a better understanding of how these substances can help treat military personnel who have psychological and cognitive disorders related to trauma.
Hope for military personnel with PTSD and TBI
About 7% are veterans will experience post-traumatic stress disorder during their lifetime, and 10.1% will experience it Moderate to severe TBI . The prevalence and severity of these conditions greatly affect their quality of life, often leading to long-term disability, mental health and social problems. Psychotherapy and antidepressants are common treatments for PTSD, but they still have limited efficacy, while psychedelics have shown better and longer-lasting results in recent studies ( 5 ).
Army and Marine Corps veteran Jonathan Lubecki is a testament to the transformative power of these procedures. Lubecki underwent MDMA therapy in 2017 to treat post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in the Iraq War.
"I'm one of the lucky people on this planet who can say I've been in treatment for PTSD longer than I really have." — Lubecki said .
After three doses of MDMA and eight sessions of therapy, Lubecki no longer experiences the debilitating effects of PTSD. He has since become an advocate for psychedelic therapy and has worked with MAPS to raise awareness and gain FDA approval.
David Cook, Executive Director of the Association special operations of America (SOAA), recognizes the positive results that can be obtained from psychedelic therapy for military personnel.
"What has been proposed and implemented in the past is clearly not working today," Cook said in an interview Stars and Stripes . "Legislation like this aims to give our heroes more options and hope for life-saving treatment."
Passage of the NDAA could be a life-changing opportunity for many veterans who have had no luck with other treatment options for their illnesses. Due to the growing research and growing success of psychedelic therapy, many service members and veterans are seeking this potentially transformative treatment. However, the legal status of these drugs made it extremely difficult to obtain this form of medical care. Now, thanks to recent legislative changes, psychedelic therapy may be more accessible to those who need it, and one step closer to becoming a legitimate choice.
Medically retired SEALs SIXTH operator Marcus Capone turned to psychedelic therapy when all other treatments failed.
"I honestly can't tell you how many different psychologists I went to," Capone said в інтерв’ю Task & Purpose . "It was the traditional Western medicine approach of anti-depressants and talk therapy, and I didn't get better."
After suffering post-traumatic stress disorder and a TBI during his service, Capone experienced severe anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts for several years. Desperate for one last chance, Capone attended a five-day retreat in Mexico where he was treated with two powerful psychedelics, ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT.
"This treatment saved my life," Capone noted. "My life had been so dark for a long time, and after these procedures, my whole perspective turned 180."
Capone's healing experience is another example of how psychedelic therapy can bring significant benefits to survivors of war trauma, providing a renewed sense of hope and possibility for veterans seeking alternative mental health treatments. As research continues to expand and legislative barriers begin to change, veterans and service members are one step closer to more affordable and effective treatment options. The passage of the NDAA demonstrates the U.S. military's recognition of the potential of psychedelic therapy, signaling a major shift in traditional treatment methods and opening the door to treatments that can offer deeper healing and long-term recovery.