VA and HHS sign agreement to expand psychedelic therapy research for veterans

The Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) signed an agreement Monday to enhance coordination on research into psychedelic drugs for treating mental health disorders among veterans.

Key Provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding

Under the new agreement, the VA and HHS plan to:

• Increase clinical trial participation
• Train therapists, nurses, and doctors to administer psychedelic medications, should they receive federal approval
• Collect data and evidence to support patients, physicians, and federal regulators in evaluating such treatments

Background and Executive Action

The agreement follows an executive order signed in April by President Donald Trump that directed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to accelerate its review of several psychedelic treatments for mental illnesses. The order primarily focused on research for ibogaine, a hallucinogen derived from an African shrub, which some veterans have found helpful in alleviating anxiety, PTSD, and depression symptoms. It commits at least $50 million to expand ibogaine therapy research.

Scope of the Mental Health Challenge

Studies on PTSD in the general population indicate that:

• One-third of patients may be resistant to traditional treatments
• Up to 50% do not respond to psychological therapy
• 40% are untreatable with common medications

An estimated 4.8 million American veterans have used psychedelic drugs, according to a study released last month by the RAND Corporation.

Collaborative Efforts with the FDA

Monday's announcement also included news that the VA signed a separate agreement with the FDA to increase collaboration in supporting the development of therapies for serious mental health conditions.

"President Trump opened up a world of possibility for treating veterans and others with mental health conditions, and VA is proud to be part of this important work," VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a statement. "Today's MOU ensures effective cooperation with HHS as we try to turn research into life-changing treatment."

Ongoing Research Initiatives

VA researchers are currently involved in more than 20 research trials on the use of psychedelics such as MDMA and psilocybin for treating:

• Severe post-traumatic stress disorder
• Depression
• Substance abuse
• Other mental health conditions

Research is also underway within the Department of Defense. A $4.9 million study is ongoing at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, examining the effectiveness of MDMA — commonly known as Molly or Ecstasy — for treating mild to moderate PTSD.

Veteran Usage and Support for Psychedelics

According to the RAND study, the most common hallucinogens used by veterans over their lifetimes include:

• LSD: 19.6%
• Psilocybin (magic mushrooms): 18.6%
• MDMA: 7.7%
• Mescaline: 7.7%

Fewer than 2.9% reported using other hallucinogenic drugs such as ibogaine, ketamine, or ayahuasca.

The study also found that veterans were more likely to support the legal use of psilocybin mushrooms (23%) and LSD (11%), while support for MDMA (9%) was roughly on par with the general U.S. population.

Voices from the Veteran Community

Ron Adkins, an Army Reserve intelligence analyst and veterans advocate who deployed twice to Afghanistan, attended Monday's MOU signing. He emphasized the importance of exploring new approaches to "the complexity of mental illness."

"The cognitive space is a very complex environment. We are all very different people, so the treatments that might work very well for one person could be wholly ineffective for another," Adkins said in an interview with Military.com. "I'm hoping we get better answers on what is effective for [veterans] trying to figure this out."

Adkins noted that U.S. veterans have traveled to Israel, Mexico, and other countries over the past decade to receive psychedelic treatment for mental health disorders, often paying thousands of dollars out of pocket. He said that should not be necessary.

"We need to continue to innovate as we as a nation does," Adkins said.

Regulatory History

In 2024, the FDA rejected a request to approve MDMA for treating PTSD in adults, citing the need for more research on its safety and efficacy. The VA is currently conducting such a study in Providence, Rhode Island.