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Australia Legalizes Medical Psychedelics – Psilocybin and MDMA Approved for Medical Treatments
The government of Australia has made a bold move to improve the mental health of its citizens by granting access to two groundbreaking therapies in the form of psilocybin and MDMA. The rescheduling of these psychedelics is aimed at helping those struggling with debilitating conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression that have proven resistant to traditional treatments.
The Australian government has made a progressive decision to prioritize the mental wellness of its citizens by reclassifying psilocybin and MDMA under the country’s drug code. While these substances won’t be made available for general use, they will now be listed in Schedule 8 for therapeutic purposes, allowing authorized psychiatrists to prescribe them to needy patients. However, it’s important to note that these drugs will remain under the stricter Schedule 9 classification for unauthorized use.
The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) made a groundbreaking announcement on Friday, recognizing the critical need for better options in treating certain treatment-resistant mental illnesses. The decision highlights the pressing issue of limited options available to patients and marks a significant step toward improving their mental well-being. The TGA stated in its notice that this is a crucial step towards addressing the current unmet medical needs of those struggling with these debilitating conditions.
Starting July 1st, psilocybin and MDMA will become accessible in a controlled medical setting for therapeutic purposes, as stated by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The decision resulted from numerous applications to reclassify the substances in the Poisons Standard, public consultation, a thorough report from an expert panel, and guidance from the Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling. However, the TGA also recognizes the inherent vulnerability of patients undergoing psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and has put in place the necessary controls to safeguard them during this process.
However, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has not evaluated any products containing psilocybin or MDMA for their quality, safety, and efficacy. Nevertheless, this amendment allows authorized psychiatrists to legally provide a designated “unapproved” medicine containing these substances to their patients for specific therapeutic purposes. This change represents a significant milestone in improving access to innovative treatments for those struggling with mental health conditions.
Australia Setting The Pace
The recent policy change in Australia has been widely celebrated by advocates in the United States and globally. The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) designation of MDMA and psilocybin as breakthrough therapies only adds to the excitement around this development. Rick Doblin, the executive director of the U.S.-based Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, expressed his hope that this move will inspire other countries to follow suit, providing suffering individuals with more opportunities to access novel treatments. He further emphasized that access to psychedelic therapies and comprehensive drug policy reform should be a global conversation and collaboration.
California State Senator Scott Wiener, who has been a driving force behind legislation to legalize the possession of certain psychedelics, hailed the news as “fantastic.”
However, the journey toward accessing psychedelics in the U.S. has not been easy. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently rejected a petition to reschedule psilocybin and a doctor’s request for a federal waiver to obtain and administer the psychedelic to terminally ill patients. This has led to a series of legal challenges in federal court. Sunil Aggarwal, a palliative care specialist in Washington State, has been battling the DEA for over a year to gain access to psilocybin. Despite his efforts, the DEA has denied his petition to place the substance in a lower drug schedule and the doctor’s waiver request under the federal “Right to Try” (RTT) law.
Matt Zorn, an attorney working on this case, said in a blog post that the process by which the Australian reform happened is precisely what they are striving to achieve in their legal battle against the DEA.
DEA Faces More Pressure
Amid mounting pressure from bipartisan lawmakers, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has come under increased scrutiny over its stance on psychedelics such as psilocybin. This has led to a series of congressional actions to clarify the use of these substances in medical treatments. It includes filing companion bills in the House and Senate to reaffirm that the “Right to Try” (RTT) policy includes Schedule I drugs like psilocybin.
The proposed amendment would make a technical change to the existing statute. It clarifies that terminally ill patients can use investigational drugs that have undergone clinical trials, regardless of their scheduling status, provided they have their doctor’s approval. This follows a letter sent by bipartisan members of Congress, led by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), calling on the DEA to allow terminally ill patients to use psilocybin without fear of federal prosecution.
Amid the surge of research revealing the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) have taken a stand to shed light on the potential of these substances. Despite being labeled as Schedule I drugs, which restricts research and development, psilocybin and MDMA have shown remarkable results in treating PTSD, trauma, anxiety, and depression.
However, federal prohibition has impeded the study of these substances. To address the issue, Sen. Booker released a video in October where he spoke about the limitations imposed on psychedelics and the need to advance their research.
Conclusion
With the recent decision by the Australian government to reschedule psilocybin and MDMA for therapeutic use, the world is beginning to take notice of the immense potential these substances hold for treating mental illness. This move highlights the need to reconsider current drug policies and regulations to provide better care for patients who have PTSD and other treatment-resistant mental health issues.
As more and more studies point to the effectiveness of psychedelics in treating mental health disorders, the pressure continues to mount for countries to re-evaluate their stance on these substances. The future of psychedelics in medicine is looking brighter. Hopefully, this change in Australia will inspire other nations to follow suit and provide suffering individuals with access to the treatments they desperately need.
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