States Exploring Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy

Over the course of the past year, several states across the US have taken legal action to expand access to psychedelic-assisted therapies. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, as much as 20 percent of all veterans returning home from Afghanistan will suffer from symptoms of PTSD. It’s currently estimated that roughly twenty-two veterans commit suicide every day in the United States.

Psychedelic-Assisted-Psychotherapy Outcomes

Marcus and his wife, Amber Capone—together with their nonprofit, Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS)—played a prominent role in the passing of Texas’ House Bill 1802, which aims to make psychedelic-assisted therapies available to Texas veterans with PTSD. A groundbreaking phase three clinical trial by MAPS found that “67 percent of participants who received three MDMA-assisted therapy sessions no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis and 88 percent experienced a clinically meaningful reduction in symptoms.”

States Expanding Access to Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy

A similar push to expand access has also been underway in Pennsylvania. Lawmakers in Connecticut approved a bill allowing for the creation of a Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Pilot Program. States including Maryland, Georgia, New York, Oregon, Colorado, Virginia, California, and Hawaii have also taken steps to decriminalize or expand access to psychedelic medicines.

Getting Support for Psychedelic Experience: If you’re looking for peer support during or after a psychedelic experience, contact Fireside Project by calling or texting 6-2FIRESIDE.

IMHU has several courses on psychedelic-assisted-psychotherapy: Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, Ayahuasca Use: Risks and Benefits, and Ibogaine: A Non-Pharmaceutical Road Out of Addiction.