Seeking ‘better solutions,’ some veterans eye psychedelics to treat PTSD
Summary
TLDRThe U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports that approximately 6% of Americans may develop PTSD in their lifetime, affecting both veterans and civilians. The script highlights the struggles with depression, anxiety, and suicide among military personnel post-service and the difficulty in finding adequate help. It introduces the exploration of psychedelic substances, such as psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, and MDMA, for therapeutic use in treating mental health issues. Despite the federal illegality of these substances, there is a growing movement advocating for further research into their potential benefits under the supervision of trained mental health professionals, with caution due to the risks for individuals with certain mental health conditions.
Takeaways
- 📊 About 6% of Americans are likely to be diagnosed with PTSD at some point in their lives, irrespective of military service.
- 😔 Post-service, veterans often grapple with depression, anxiety, and suicide, highlighting the need for effective mental health support.
- 🔍 There's an urgent call for innovative therapies to address the challenges faced by veterans in transitioning back to civilian life.
- 🍄 Veterans, like Michael Couple Meyer, are advocating for the exploration of psychedelic substances for therapeutic purposes.
- 🧪 Psychedelic substances such as psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, and MDMA are being studied for their potential therapeutic benefits.
- 🏥 The research into psychedelics is conducted in controlled environments under the supervision of trained mental health professionals.
- ⚠️ Despite low risk of addiction or overdose, there are serious psychological risks associated with psychedelics, especially for those with certain mental health conditions or family histories.
- 🏛️ Some cities have decriminalized so-called 'magic mushrooms,' reflecting a shift in societal attitudes towards these substances.
- 💡 The potential of psychedelics to aid in mental health treatment is gaining attention, with an increasing number of studies and investments.
- 📜 The script suggests a growing movement among military veterans advocating for further research into the therapeutic use of psychedelics.
Q & A
What percentage of Americans may be diagnosed with PTSD according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
-About 6% of Americans may be diagnosed with PTSD at some point in their lives.
What mental health issues are commonly faced by veterans after their service ends?
-Veterans often face depression, anxiety, and suicide after their service has ended.
Why are veterans seeking alternative care for their mental health?
-Veterans are seeking alternative care due to frustration with an overwhelmed VA mental health system and the difficulty in finding help.
Which military unit did Michael Couple Meyer serve with and what challenges did he face?
-Michael Couple Meyer served with the 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army, which is the most deployed unit of the regular army. He faced intense fighting and lost friends, and had difficulty returning to civilian life.
What substances are being considered for therapeutic use among military veterans?
-Substances like psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, and MDMA are being considered for therapeutic use among military veterans.
What is the current legal status of psychedelics in the United States?
-Psychedelics are still federally illegal in the United States, although some cities have decriminalized so-called magic mushrooms.
What are the potential risks associated with the use of psychedelic substances in therapy?
-The potential risks include serious psychological risks, especially for people with certain forms of mental illness or a family history of those conditions.
How are doctors studying the therapeutic potential of psychedelics?
-Doctors are studying psychedelics in highly controlled environments under the supervision of trained mental health professionals.
What is the current stance of the medical community regarding the use of psychedelic substances for therapy?
-The medical community is cautiously optimistic about the potential of psychedelic substances for therapy, but emphasizes the need for careful study and professional supervision.
Why might some veterans be hesitant to seek help for their mental health?
-Some veterans might be hesitant to seek help because they feel that asking for help is a weakness within themselves.
What is the significance of the growing movement among military vets to study the use of psychedelic substances?
-The significance of the movement is that it represents a shift towards exploring alternative treatments for mental health issues among veterans, potentially offering new solutions where traditional methods have fallen short.
Outlines
💊 PTSD and the Search for New Therapies
The paragraph discusses the prevalence of PTSD among Americans, affecting approximately 6% of the population, including those who have not served in the military. It highlights the ongoing struggles with depression, anxiety, and suicide among veterans post-service and the difficulty they face in finding help. The narrative introduces Michael Couple Meyer, a veteran from the 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army, who shares his personal difficulties in transitioning back to civilian life. Meyer is part of a movement advocating for the study of psychedelic substances like psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, and MDMA for therapeutic use. The paragraph also mentions the potential benefits and risks associated with these substances, emphasizing the need for controlled studies and the supervision of trained mental health professionals.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡PTSD
💡Depression
💡Anxiety
💡Suicide
💡Therapy
💡Psychedelic Substances
💡Mental Health System
💡Stigma
💡Therapeutic Potential
💡Controlled Environment
💡Decriminalization
Highlights
About 6% of Americans will be diagnosed with PTSD at some point in their lives.
Depression, anxiety, and suicide are common issues among troops after their service.
There is an urgent need for new therapies to address the mental health challenges faced by veterans.
Psychedelic substances like psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, and MDMA are being studied for therapeutic use.
Veteran Michael Couple Meyer highlights the difficulty of transitioning back to civilian life after military service.
Alternative care is being sought by veterans frustrated with the overwhelmed VA mental health system.
A growing movement among military vets is pushing for the study of psychedelic substances for therapeutic use.
Many veterans are hesitant to ask for help due to the stigma associated with mental health issues.
Psychedelics have long been stigmatized but are now being studied for their therapeutic potential.
Early studies of psychedelic compounds have shown great promise in treating mental health conditions.
The risk of addiction or overdose with psychedelics is considered low, but there are psychological risks.
Studies on psychedelics are done in highly controlled environments under the supervision of trained mental health professionals.
There is support for exploring the potential of psychedelics in therapy if scientists believe there is progress to be made.
Psychedelics remain federally illegal, but some cities have decriminalized so-called magic mushrooms.
Investment is being made in researching psychedelics despite their illegal status.
The use of psychedelic compounds should be under the guidance and supervision of a physician and mental health professional.
The potential for psychedelics to help with mental health is seen as incredible by some, offering alternatives to traditional treatments.
Transcripts
>> ACCORDING TO THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
ABOUT 6% OF AMERICANS WILL BE
DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD AT SOME
POINT IN THEIR LIVES, WHETHER
THEY SERVED IN THE MILITARY OR
NOT.
>> DEPRESSION ANXIETY AND
SUICIDE CONTINUE TO HAUNT OUR
TROOPS AFTER THEIR SERVICE HAS
ENDED AND FINDING HELP CAN
OFTEN BE DIFFICULT IF NOT
IMPOSSIBLE.
>> BECAUSE OF THIS. THERE'S AN
URGENT NEED FOR NEW
THERAPY AND PROMISES BEEN
SHOWN WITH DRUGS AS ANCIENT AS
THEY ARE CONTROVERSIAL.
>> INITIALLY DEPLOYED TO
KOSOVO AND THEN TO A ROCK AT
THE START OF THE FIRST GULF
WAR. MICHAEL COUPLE MEYER
SERVED WITH THE 10TH MOUNTAIN
DIVISION OF THE U.S. ARMY, THE
MOST DEPLOYED UNIT OF THE
REGULAR ARMY. THE FIGHTING WAS
INTENSE AND HE LOST FRIENDS.
HE REMEMBERS HAVING DIFFICULTY
IN RETURNING TO CIVILIAN LIFE
AND I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY
GUY. I KNOW THERE'S SO MANY
GUYS OUT THERE MARINES, NAVY
GUYS DEALING WITH EXACTLY WHAT
I'M DEALING WITH YOU. HAVING
FRIENDS DEALING WITH HIS
FAMILY. I THINK IT REALLY
OPENED MY EYES TO.
>> ALTERNATIVE CARE THAT COULD
BRING ABOUT A BETTER
SOLUTIONS. FRUSTRATED WITH AN
OVERWHELMED VA MENTAL HEALTH
SYSTEM TO PULL MY OR IS NOW
PART OF A GROWING MOVEMENT
AMONG MILITARY VETS IN SEVERAL
US STATES.
>> WHO ARE TRYING TO CONVINCE
LAWMAKERS TO FURTHER STUDY,
THE USE OF PSYCHEDELIC
SUBSTANCES. LIKE SIDE
MUSHROOMS LSD AND MDMA FOR
THERAPEUTIC USE THAT'S ARE OUT
THERE LOOKING TO DO CRAZY
THINGS ARE JUST OUT THERE
TRYING TO SEEK SOME HELP.
>> A LOT OF THEM ARE TOO GOOD
TO ASK FOR HELP BECAUSE THEY
FEEL THAT IT'S A WEAKNESS
INSIDE THEMSELVES. LONG
STIGMATIZED AS DRUGS OF THE
COUNTERCULTURE. DOCTORS ARE
NOW STUDYING PSYCHEDELICS AND
THEIR THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL
OZ. I DON'T READ THESE CALLED
PHONES SOME OF THE EARLY
WENDY'S COMPOUNDS HAVE SHOWN
GREAT PROMISE IN HIS DOCTORS
SAY THAT WHILE THE RISK OF
ADDICTION OR OVERDOSE IS
CONSIDERED LOW. THEY WARNED
THAT THERE ARE SERIOUS
PSYCHOLOGICAL RISKS,
ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH
CERTAIN FORMS OF MENTAL
ILLNESS OR A FAMILY HISTORY OF
THOSE CONDITIONS AND BEING
VERY CAREFUL IN TERMS OF HOW
WE DO THESE STUDIES. THEY'RE
DONE IN HIGHLY CONTROLLED
ENVIRONMENT.
>> PATIENTS ARE UNDER THE
SUPERVISION OFF TRAINED MENTAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONS.
>> IF THE SCIENTISTS THINK
THIS THERE'S SOME. HEADWAY
HERE, THEN I'M ALL FOR TRYING.
IT.
>> PSYCHEDELICS ARE STILL
FEDERALLY UTLEY ILLEGAL,
ALTHOUGH A STRING OF CITIES
INCLUDING ANN ARBOR AND THE
DECRIMINALIZE SO-CALLED MAGIC
MUSHROOMS AND NOW MONEY IS
GOING INTO THIS NEW
OPPORTUNITY. BUT DOCTORS
CAUTION THE USE OF THESE
COMPOUNDS SHOULD BE ON UNDER
THE USE AND SUPERVISION. I'M A
PHYSICIAN AND MENTAL HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL.
>> LOTS OF STORIES OUT THERE
LIKE THAT. YEAH. THIS KIND OF
HELP CERTAINLY BE INCREDIBLE.
EXACTLY. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVES TO
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