FDA On MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy

FDA Rejects Application to Accept MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy

We are living in a mental health crisis that has reached a critical level with more than 350 million people living with PTSD worldwide. Fortunately, a tool exists that can help address the suffering — psychedelic-assisted therapies.--Rick Doblin, PhD.

On August 9, 2024 the FDA announced that it had refused to endorse the use of MDMA (aka Ecstasy or Molly) for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. The FDA asked for more research to be done to prepare for another evaluation. Prior to 1985, MDMA, in its pure form, was a legal substance and could be used legally in a therapeutic context. It was also very popular as a party drug as it reduced inhibitions and typically activated more trust, self-acceptance, and warm feelings towards others. Used by a trained, ethical facilitator in therapy, appropriate use of pure MDMA was found to reduce the effects of PTSD, depression and anxiety, allowing greater insight and freedom from past problems of life.

FDA and MAPS

MAPS president, Rick Doblin, PhD, responded to the FDA announcement via a public letter. We are living in a mental health crisis that has reached a critical level with more than 350 million people living with PTSD worldwide. Fortunately, a tool exists that can help address the suffering — psychedelic-assisted therapies. We [MAPS] have made tremendous progress over 38 years in combatting drug war stigma, generating data showing the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat mental health conditions, and educating the public on how psychedelics can be safely integrated into society.