The Australian government has become one of the first to approve the use of the psychedelic MDMA to treat mental health conditions like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder. Psychiatrists can begin prescribing MDMA in July 2023, and usage will be monitored closely. PTSD and MDD can be resistant to traditional remedies like talk therapy and SSRIs, and medical professionals have long researched the benefits of using psychedelics to treat these conditions. Australia based the decision on a variety of successful clinical trials that demonstrated MDMA’s efficacy in treating PTSD and MDD. MDMA, otherwise known as ecstasy, is still illegal in Australia unless one obtains a prescription. If the introduction of MDMA is successful in Australia, it will likely encourage other countries to follow suit in greenlighting the experimental treatment.
Image via Medical News Today
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