Congressional Hearing for Psychedelics Research
In November, the House held the first congressional hearing to discuss use of psychedelics in clinical care for veterans. The hearing, entitled “Emerging Therapies: Breakthroughs in the Battle Against Suicide?” was led by the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health and its chair, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Several individuals testified including VA officials and scientific advocates. In line with ongoing research, Rep. Meeks and Rep Julia Brownley argue that psychedelic-assisted therapy could be an avenue for treating veteran mental health when used in conjunction with behavioral therapies. In particular, the hearing highlighted high rates of suicidality, posttraumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorders in the veteran population and the need for innovative clinical approaches to treatment. The representatives are advocating for the ability to conduct this potentially life saving work in controlled environments under to provision of qualified providers. Though in its early stages, this congressional hearing marks a step in the right direction for conducting research on the therapeutic effects of psychedelics.
To learn more about the congressional hearing, see the following articles:
To learn more about clinical applications of psychedelics, see this previous CAS News Article: