Why Trump is encouraging psychedelics for mental health

Marie Phelan said she had never heard of MDMA before seeing a flyer seeking veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Now she says the psychoactive drug, better known as ecstasy or molly, changed the course of her life.

“My experience with MDMA completely opened my heart,” said Phelan, who joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 1999 and deployed to Iraq in 2003.

“I was carrying this big, heavy backpack and I put it on the beach and just started unpacking it one little, tiny thing at a time and putting every little thing out on the waves,” Phelan said of recovery from treatment.

Phelan isn’t the only person turning to alternative treatments for trauma. He is among a small group of Americans undergoing psychedelic-assisted therapy through clinical trials studying new approaches to mental health treatment.

Now access to these treatments is closer than ever to widespread availability; This brings new options for patients and opportunities for companies, as well as new scrutiny on safety and effectiveness.

In April, President Donald Trump signed an agreement. executive order aims to accelerate research into psychedelic drugs for mental illnesses. The move comes as his administration awarded priority review vouchers to three companies developing psychedelic or MDMA-like therapies. Compass PathsUsona Institute and Transcend Therapeutics — aims to speed up parts of the FDA review process.

The order marks a notable shift in tone from the first term of Trump’s administration, when he took a tougher stance on marijuana and other controlled substances. This time, the White House said psychedelic compounds “have demonstrated in clinical studies the potential to address serious mental illness for patients whose conditions persist after completing standard treatment.”

Investors quickly flocked to the sector. Shares of psychedelic drug developers like Compass Pathways and other competitors in the space soared following the announcement; Wall Street analysts argued the order could legitimize an industry long seen as fringe.

But the science remains deeply debated, raising questions about how much the segment needs to grow.

Clinical studies of some of these compounds have shown promising results. Inside final stage trials Supported by the nonprofit psychedelic research advocacy group According to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, roughly 71% of participants with severe PTSD no longer meet diagnostic criteria for the disorder after MDMA-assisted therapy sessions.

fda rejected a previous application for MDMA-assisted therapy in 2024, citing concerns about the design of the same late-stage study. and the need for additional data. Some psychedelic researchers saw this decision as evidence that the institution remained cautious despite growing public enthusiasm.

Countries outside the United States have already begun loosening restrictions. Australia becomes first country to allow licensed psychiatrists to prescribe MDMA and psilocybin for certain mental health problems in 2023. researchers Canada, Switzerland And United Kingdom It also expanded clinical studies examining psychedelic-assisted treatments.

Even so, Weiss warns that not all psychedelic compounds carry the same risks or the same amount of evidence supporting their use.

“Psychedelic compounds have different safety profiles and different risks,” Weiss said. “Ibogaine has particularly high cardiovascular risks, and so what needs to be done is a very measured, methodical weighing of safety and effectiveness between ibogaine and other compounds.”

The White House executive order specifically referred to accelerating ibogaine research. But unlike psilocybin or MDMA-assisted therapy, ibogaine has not undergone large-scale clinical trials in the United States and has been associated with potentially serious illness. cardiovascular side effects.

The real concern of some researchers is not that psychedelic treatments are ineffective, but that political momentum could outpace the scientific process, Weiss said.

“My biggest concern is that FDA standards are being relaxed for political reasons,” he said. “It is not clear that this is the case, but what is needed is much more scientific research and a very objective interpretation of the risks and benefits.”

Kabir Nath, CEO of Compass Pathways, said his company adheres to the same standards that the FDA applies to all drugs. He said the company would not begin the process of shipping his drug. COMP360 PsilocybinFor approval in the first instance if the data is considered insufficient.

Even supporters of psychedelics used as treatments acknowledge that the therapies are much more complex than taking a prescription pill at home. Most psychedelic-assisted therapy trials involve hours of preparation with clinicians, supervised treatment sessions, and then follow-up integration therapy.

Treatments also bring risks. Patients may experience panic attacks, paranoia, increased heart rate, or psychological distress during sessions. In some clinical settings, doctors use so-called “rescue medications,” such as benzodiazepines or antipsychotic medications, to calm patients who are experiencing severe adverse reactions or extreme hallucinations.

Phelan said his experience with MDMA-assisted therapy was less like intoxication and more like facing years of trauma in a controlled environment.

For veterans advocates like Juliana Mercer, executive director of the nonprofit Healing Breakthrough, the administration’s decision represents an endorsement for patients who have spent years seeking broader access to alternative mental health treatments. Mercer, a US Marine Corps veteran, said psychedelic-assisted therapy “completely changed” his life after struggling with trauma.

“One of the things this experience could give me was permission to heal,” Mercer said.

As the Trump administration pursues VA staffing cuts and deeper military relations with Iran, some veterans’ numbers are increasing. questioning prioritization of their care.

For this reason, some critics of the Trump administration in question The timing of the executive order is particularly important, he said, as the president tries to win back veteran support ahead of the midterm elections.

But Phelan rejected the idea that support for psychedelic therapies would amount to political support for Trump.

“They made a lot of cuts to German benefits and medical services,” Phelan said. “Great, you did a good thing. You did something right… I can’t speak to how other people will react, but if that was the intention, I doubt it was effective.”

Some industry executives also argue that the executive order may have less immediate impact than headlines. Companies like Compass Pathways were already nearing the final stages of Phase 3 trials before the White House announcement, meaning applications for FDA approval were likely to follow.

Nath, CEO or Compass Pathways, said the order primarily points to broader political acceptance of the field.

“This certainly provides a significant tailwind, incentive and validation,” Nath said.

— CNBC’s Ryan Baker contributed to this report