VA Benefits: Trump Shares Update on Psychedelic Drug Treatment for Veterans
In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced a new step involving the hallucinogenic compound ibogaine.
President Donald Trump emphasized the administration's commitment to expanding access to psychedelic-assisted treatments for veterans dealing with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and depression. In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump highlighted a new development involving the hallucinogenic compound ibogaine. He announced that Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received a historic gift from the University of Miami, which provided the federal government with the original 1994 Ibogaine Investigational New Drug application.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been intensifying its research into psychedelic therapies, including clinical trials with psilocybin for veterans with treatment-resistant mental health conditions, following an executive order issued by Trump in April. This order aimed to expedite research and regulatory review of psychedelic-assisted therapies, such as ibogaine, psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, and LSD, and allocated approximately $50 million for research initiatives and state-level programs studying these treatments.
Trump expressed hope that more companies and institutions would join their efforts to provide veterans with this potential relief. Ibogaine, derived from the African shrub Tabernanthe iboga, has shown promise in treating PTSD, depression, addiction, and other behavioral health disorders by promoting neuroplasticity and reducing withdrawal symptoms.
However, the drug remains a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States, with federal regulators having not approved it for medical use. Researchers have also raised concerns about potential cardiac risks associated with ibogaine treatment. The administration's embrace of psychedelic medicine, particularly in treating veterans, marks a significant shift in how mental health is approached in America.
Jay Godfrey, CEO and co-founder of Nushama, stated that the shift represents a historic change in mental health treatment. However, experts caution that larger clinical trials are necessary to establish the long-term safety and effectiveness of these treatments, as well as the specific risks involved, such as potential cardiac issues with ibogaine.
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