President Donald Trump has signed a decree aimed at expanding access to certain psychoactive substances for the treatment of mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety.
Under the directive, $50 million in federal funds will be allocated to improve access to these therapies. It also calls on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite the review of substances such as psilocybin and ibogaine.
Furthermore, NPR News reported on this development on Saturday, highlighting the administration’s commitment to accelerate the regulatory evaluation of psychedelic-assisted treatments.
During the signing, the president was joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as well as Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
In the coming days, the FDA is expected to issue national emergency use authorizations for three psychedelic medications. According to Commissioner Mary Makary, this measure could expedite the review process to just a few weeks. This would be a first for the agency in terms of approving psychedelic substances for treatment.
At the ceremony, the president presented this initiative as a response to the national mental health crisis, particularly addressing the issue of suicide.
The decree states: “Today, more than 14 million American adults suffer from a serious mental illness, defined as a diagnosed mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder, and about 8 million are receiving prescription medication for these conditions.”
Donald Trump also highlighted the promising results of psychedelic treatments tested on active duty military personnel and veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress. To date, the Department of Veterans Affairs is participating in at least five clinical trials involving these substances, notably in New York, California, and Oregon.
Finally, psychedelics, also known as hallucinogens, refer to a category of psychoactive substances capable of altering perception, mood, and cognitive processes.
