Former British Army Chief Calls for Eased MDMA Regulations to Treat Veterans' PTSD
A high-ranking former British military officer is urging the government to relax restrictions on the party drug MDMA in order to facilitate cheaper trials of its use as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans.
Sir Nick Carter, who served as chief of the defense staff until 2021, believes that existing regulations are stifling research into the potential benefits of MDMA-assisted therapy. Currently, a single gram of "medical-grade" MDMA can cost up to £10,000, compared with a street price of around £40, making it prohibitively expensive for researchers to conduct trials.
Carter argues that these restrictions are limiting the ability to test MDMA in clinical settings and prevent its potential effectiveness from being fully realized. A recent study published in Nature Medicine found that 71% of participants who underwent MDMA-assisted therapy experienced complete elimination of PTSD symptoms. Carter is calling on the government to reduce these costs, not by decriminalizing the drug but rather by relaxing its classification for medical use.
The charity Supporting Wounded Veterans, which Carter patronizes, is seeking £2 million to fund further trials of MDMA-assisted therapy. While £700,000 has already been raised, more funding is needed to support this research.
One individual who could benefit from such treatment is Martin Wade, a former British Army lawyer who was deployed in Afghanistan and later developed PTSD. Wade described feeling increasingly responsible for the decisions made on the ground during his deployment, including deciding whether a soldier's actions constituted a war crime.
Wade struggled with mental health issues following his discharge from the military, including hyper-vigilance, flashbacks, and nightmares. He believes that MDMA-assisted therapy could offer hope to veterans struggling with PTSD but has been unable to find relief through conventional treatments.
The potential benefits of MDMA-assisted therapy extend beyond the military community. Carter suggests that this treatment could also be beneficial for police officers, emergency services workers, and NHS personnel who may experience similar levels of stress and trauma.
As research into the therapeutic potential of MDMA continues, it remains to be seen whether these proposed trials will ultimately contribute to a reduction in PTSD symptoms among veterans.
A high-ranking former British military officer is urging the government to relax restrictions on the party drug MDMA in order to facilitate cheaper trials of its use as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans.
Sir Nick Carter, who served as chief of the defense staff until 2021, believes that existing regulations are stifling research into the potential benefits of MDMA-assisted therapy. Currently, a single gram of "medical-grade" MDMA can cost up to £10,000, compared with a street price of around £40, making it prohibitively expensive for researchers to conduct trials.
Carter argues that these restrictions are limiting the ability to test MDMA in clinical settings and prevent its potential effectiveness from being fully realized. A recent study published in Nature Medicine found that 71% of participants who underwent MDMA-assisted therapy experienced complete elimination of PTSD symptoms. Carter is calling on the government to reduce these costs, not by decriminalizing the drug but rather by relaxing its classification for medical use.
The charity Supporting Wounded Veterans, which Carter patronizes, is seeking £2 million to fund further trials of MDMA-assisted therapy. While £700,000 has already been raised, more funding is needed to support this research.
One individual who could benefit from such treatment is Martin Wade, a former British Army lawyer who was deployed in Afghanistan and later developed PTSD. Wade described feeling increasingly responsible for the decisions made on the ground during his deployment, including deciding whether a soldier's actions constituted a war crime.
Wade struggled with mental health issues following his discharge from the military, including hyper-vigilance, flashbacks, and nightmares. He believes that MDMA-assisted therapy could offer hope to veterans struggling with PTSD but has been unable to find relief through conventional treatments.
The potential benefits of MDMA-assisted therapy extend beyond the military community. Carter suggests that this treatment could also be beneficial for police officers, emergency services workers, and NHS personnel who may experience similar levels of stress and trauma.
As research into the therapeutic potential of MDMA continues, it remains to be seen whether these proposed trials will ultimately contribute to a reduction in PTSD symptoms among veterans.
sir nick carter is literally asking for our help 
to make mdma cheaper so scientists can test its effects on vets with ptsd! £10k per gram is insane 
and it's costing lives 
these ppl need a way out and maybe this could be the answer 
i'm not saying let's get high 
but seriously, who cares about the cost when people are suffering? 
let's just make sure we're giving them a chance at recovery 
.
I mean, what's next? Are we gonna start giving opioids to people for stress relief too? 
. Let's hope more funding comes through and we can get these trials started ASAP 
! I mean, £10k for a gram of MDMA? That's like buying a house 
! And it's not just about saving money, it's about helping people who are suffering from PTSD. It's already been shown to work for 71% of participants in that Nature Medicine study 
. So why can't the government make it more accessible and affordable? 
.
. Can't we just try and see if it works instead of worrying about costs and regulations? I mean, a gram of medical-grade MDMA can cost up to £10k 
! But at the same time, if it can help people like Martin Wade who are struggling with hyper-vigilance and flashbacks... that's gotta be worth exploring 
. im not saying relax the regulations completely, but come on gov, make it easier for ppl to fund research that can potentially change lives 
. i wish there was more transparency about how the £2m is being used too... like what specific trials are they planning to run? 
! It's just not feasible for most researchers. And what really gets me is that this is all about helping people who've seen some serious stuff, folks. PTSD is no joke, and if we've got the chance to try something that might actually work, then let's do it.
.
. The fact that a former army chief is speaking out about this issue and advocating for more research is super brave 
. It's all about finding innovative solutions to support our heroes and help them cope with trauma 
. We can find a way to make research into MDMA-assisted therapy more accessible without compromising safety or ethics 
. It's not about decriminalizing the whole thing, just making it accessible to researchers so they can figure out its benefits 
. And it's not just the vets who could benefit, either - I mean, have you ever had to deal with PTSD yourself? It's like your brain is stuck in a never-ending nightmare 
. So yeah, let's get some of these restrictions lifted and see if we can't help some people find some peace 
.
. and honestly, £10k for one gram of "medical-grade" MDMA is straight up crazy 
. Like, £10,000 per gram is not exactly cheap 
. I'm all for reducing those costs so more people can get access to this therapy 
And, from what I've seen, it's not just about the veterans either 
UK: £10,000 per gram
Canada: $15,000 CAD per kilogram (around £11,000)
USA: $25,000+ per kilogram (ouch!)
. It's time for the government to take a closer look at this and see if they can find a way to make it work