An official with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) told Congress on Thursday that the government is monitoring research into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics “very, very closely,” but that treatment involving the substances is not yet part of the “standard of care” for military veterans.
At a hearing before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX) reiterated his interest in “alternative treatments” for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder “and other suicide risk factors,” including MDMA and psilocybin.
Veterans service organizations like the Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) and Reason for Hope also submitted written testimony for the hearing touting research into psychedelic-assisted therapy and calling for administrative reform.
Allred, for his part, asked Veterans Health Administration (VHA) clinical researcher Lisa Brenner about the status of research into alternative treatments given early studies showing that psychedelics hold promising potential to reduce symptoms of “psychological distress.”
“Obviously, when it comes to preventing veteran suicide, we should be looking at all avenues of research, of new ways to try and treat [veterans],” the congressman said. “Is the VA tracking these studies? Are there any plans for the VA to conduct its own research into this
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