The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Tuesday that it is launching a clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The study will also examine the drug's impact on individuals with severe mental health conditions and alcohol use disorder.
Approximately 80 veterans are expected to participate in the trial, which will be conducted at the VA Providence Healthcare System. Recruitment will draw from the Providence, Rhode Island campus and the VA Connecticut Healthcare System in West Haven, Connecticut.
Researchers will compare outcomes for veterans receiving MDMA-assisted therapy against those given identical psychotherapy paired with an active placebo. This approach aims to isolate the specific effects of the psychedelic compound.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins said in a statement, "This trial represents an important step in safely evaluating new approaches and innovations to treat Veterans with severe mental health conditions." The initiative aligns with President Trump's April executive order titled "Accelerating Medical Treatments for Serious Mental Illness."
Federal Push for Psychedelic Research
The trial follows the Food and Drug Administration's decision to grant fast-track review to three companies studying psychedelic therapies last month. One of those drugs, methylone—a compound similar to MDMA—is being evaluated as a potential PTSD treatment.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been vocal about the benefits of psychedelics, citing their positive impact on his son and close friends dealing with grief and emotional stress. About a week after Trump's executive order, Kennedy and former FDA Commissioner Marty Makary stated that reviewing MDMA and other psychedelics is "a top priority" for the administration.
This marks a sharp reversal from the Biden administration's stance, which rejected MDMA as a PTSD treatment last year, calling for longer-term studies. The VA's new trial could reshape the debate over psychedelic-assisted therapies in federal healthcare.
For veterans struggling with treatment-resistant PTSD and co-occurring disorders, this trial offers a potential new avenue. The VA is also exploring other innovations, such as using blockchain to fix benefits delays, as highlighted by Representative Crank's recent push.
