VA Announces MDMA Clinical Trial
The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted therapy or MDMA therapy. It’s a controversial move for a variety of reasons, including the fact that MDMA is prohibited for troops to use recreationally, and the drug has a reputation associated with raves and illegal drug culture. But much depends on how the substance is used and for what reasons.
VA Announces MDMA Clinical Trial
VA.gov has a page dedicated to MDMA and psychedelic therapy, which notes, “Taking MDMA for treatment as prescribed and supervised by a medical provider is different from taking MDMA recreationally. The potential benefits of MDMA for PTSD have only been demonstrated when the drug is taken during a course of psychotherapy. ”
The study is titled A Randomized Controlled Trial of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorder in U.S. Veterans, and VA researchers plan to enroll approximately 80 veterans. The trial is meant to compare outcomes between participants receiving the MDMA-assisted therapy and a control group receiving identical psychotherapy paired with an active placebo.
Data generated from the trial will be shared directly with the Food and Drug Administration to assist in federal evaluation of the substance.
Read More: Veteran Education Benefits Guide
MDMA Still Illegal Outside Clinical Trials
According to VA.gov, “According to federal law, psychedelic drugs are not legal for use in standard clinical care.”
At press time, “MDMA is classified as ‘Schedule I’ by the FDA, which means the drug has high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use,” VA.gov adds that Schedule I drugs can be used in medical research. VA research could help change that depending on the outcome of the trial.
In controlled research, “MDMA is associated with side effects that are usually mild to moderate in severity and do not last long. The most common side effects include elevated heart rate or blood pressure, feeling anxious or jittery, muscle tightness, jaw clenching, decreased appetite, nausea, excessive sweating, feeling cold, restlessness, dilated pupils, uncontrolled eye movements, chest pain or discomfort, blurred vision, and chills.”
Who the VA MDMA Trial is For
The VA clinical trial is for veterans suffering from severe mental health disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder. The VA research initiative follows an executive order aimed at accelerating medical treatments for serious mental illness by increasing participation in clinical trials and advancing research models for psychedelic substances.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is currently involved in 19 other active clinical trials exploring psychedelic therapies for mental health conditions, research projects that are supported by over 23 million dollars in external funding.
Why is this type of trial controversial in some circles? While the Department of Veterans Affairs expands its clinical trials to find alternative solutions for former service members, the Department of Defense enforces a zero-tolerance policy on the use of these substances by active-duty personnel, as well as by members of the Guard and Reserve.
Psychedelics Still Banned Under Military Law
The Uniform Code of Military Justice strictly prohibits the use of controlled substances, including MDMA, psilocybin, and marijuana. Active duty personnel are subject to random urinalysis testing. A positive result for a banned substance generally leads to disciplinary action. That action can include non-judicial punishment, court-martial, or administrative separation from the military.
The Department of Defense authorizes research programs, including provisions in recent National Defense Authorization Acts, allowing limited clinical studies for active-duty personnel under professional medical supervision. Outside of these authorized military research protocols, any independent use of MDMA or other psychedelic substances is banned for active duty troops and members of the Guard and Reserve.
There is a boundary between veteran medical research and active duty military discipline. The Department of Veterans Affairs continues to use its network of medical facilities to gather clinical data in compliance with federal guidelines. The active duty military continues to prioritize immediate operational readiness by enforcing a total prohibition for personnel currently serving in the ranks.
The options open to you in terms of MDMA or other psychedelics used in the pursuit of better mental health may depend greatly on whether you are currently serving or retired/separated.
Veterans seeking assistance for mental health challenges can access existing, proven, evidence-based treatments currently available at all Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. Those currently serving can get services and treatment through TRICARE or via a referral to a mental health provider in the military healthcare system.
Read More: Veteran Education Benefits Guide
About the author
Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
