Former British Army Chief Advocates for MDMA Therapy Trials

A former head of the British military is urging the government to relax restrictions on MDMA to facilitate more cost-effective trials for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sir Nick Carter, who served as Chief of the Defence Staff until 2021, highlighted that the current regulations inflate the cost of “medical grade” MDMA to approximately £10,000 per gram, compared to around £40 on the street. This price disparity complicates and hinders necessary clinical research.

Carter’s call to action comes in response to a study published in Nature Medicine, which revealed that MDMA-assisted therapy successfully eliminated PTSD symptoms in 71% of the participants in a small trial involving 52 individuals. He emphasized the potential of MDMA therapy to surpass traditional PTSD treatments, which currently affect an estimated 9% of military veterans who served during deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“What we want is for the government to make the cost of trials much cheaper. We’re not asking for MDMA to be declassified, but there should be some reduction in its classification when it comes to medical treatment,” Carter stated. He also noted that the potential benefits of this therapy could extend beyond military veterans to first responders, police officers, and healthcare workers.

Currently, MDMA is classified as a Class A drug in the UK, making its sale and possession illegal. To be used in clinical settings, it must be imported at significant expense and transported securely to research facilities. A research team at the University of Cambridge is launching a campaign to raise £2 million to fund additional trials of MDMA-assisted therapy for approximately 40 participants, in collaboration with the charity Supporting Wounded Veterans, of which Carter is a patron. So far, £700,000 has been secured to support this initiative, according to Gilly Norton, the charity’s chief executive.

MDMA, widely known as ecstasy, is known to produce feelings of euphoria and emotional connection when used recreationally. Mental health researchers aim to harness these qualities in a therapeutic context. A typical MDMA-assisted therapy session consists of two or three eight-hour sessions with a therapist, allowing patients to confront underlying issues related to their PTSD. “Essentially, it affects the plasticity of the brain,” Carter explained. “When the psychiatrist asks questions, the patient is much more responsive. The process needs to be closely supervised; it’s not about creating a trip, but having the right effect.”

One individual who hopes to benefit from this therapy is Martin Wade, a 53-year-old former lawyer with the British Army. Wade developed complex PTSD after his deployment in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, between 2006 and 2007. His duties included assessing the legality of military operations, which placed heavy emotional burdens on him. Wade recounted the trauma of witnessing civilian casualties, including a heartbreaking incident where a warning shot resulted in the death of a woman and her child.

“Where do you start?” Wade reflected on the immense responsibility he felt following such incidents. “It was a terrible, terrible mistake.” After years of grappling with alcohol dependence and mental health issues, Wade was diagnosed with PTSD and discharged from the military. Since then, he has undergone various psychiatric treatments and has found some solace in art.

Wade expressed his desire to participate in MDMA-assisted therapy, believing it could provide real hope for veterans facing similar challenges. He remarked, “It gives you a sense of self-love when you’re talking about difficult and ingrained experiences that have become part of a chronic condition.” Despite years of traditional therapies, he found himself struggling with symptoms like hyper-vigilance and nightmares.

He also called for increased government support for veterans battling PTSD. “What really irritates me is that when you are in somewhere like Afghanistan, you realize how far missiles are being used at £80,000 per warhead. Just imagine if the government would allocate that amount to provide therapy for struggling veterans.”

As discussions on MDMA-assisted therapy continue, the potential for a transformative approach to treating PTSD in veterans remains a topic of significant interest and urgency.