New Zealand Authorizes MDMA for Severe PTSD Treatment
2 sources across 2 countries · Brazil · United Kingdom
Who reported this
- UOL
- The Guardian
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- Centre-left
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- Right
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New Zealand's pharmaceutical regulatory body, Medsafe, has granted two psychiatrists authorization to prescribe pharmaceutical grade MDMA to individuals with severe post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This decision makes New Zealand the second country globally to approve the drug for this purpose, following Australia in 2023. Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour stated that the country is committed to innovative treatments, noting that MDMA can be effective when used through psychedelic assisted therapy.
The Ministry of Health specified that the treatment must be combined with psychotherapy and conducted in a controlled clinical setting under the care of an authorized psychiatrist. Patients must be 18 years or older and will not be supplied with drugs to take home. This move contrasts with the United States, where the Food and Drug Administration rejected the medicinal use of MDMA in 2024 due to insufficient evidence of safety and effectiveness.
Additional context provided includes a study from Israel suggesting that MDMA used by partygoers during the October 7 Hamas attacks helped cushion the impact of trauma. In the US, pharmaceutical options for PTSD have been limited to two antidepressants with uneven response rates.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- Outlets of this lean framed the event as a positive step toward innovative mental health treatment and highlighted the limitations of existing pharmaceutical options.
Sources
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