MAPS

When I first articulated a plan to legitimize a psychedelic-assisted therapy through FDA approval, many people said it was impossible. Thirty-seven years later, we are on the precipice of bringing a novel therapy to the millions of Americans living with PTSD who haven’t found relief through current treatments. The impossible became possible through the bravery of clinical trial participants, the compassion of mental health practitioners, and the generosity of thousands of donors. Today, we can imagine that MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD may soon be available and accessible to all who could benefit.

– Rick Doblin, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director of MAPS

Rick Doblin founded the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) as a non-profit psychedelic pharmaceutical company in 1986. MAPS was created to bring back psychedelic research by providing public education and drug policy reform. It’s mission is to develop “medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana. Over the course of the past 35 years, MAPS has raised over $130 million for psychedelic research and education.” (MAPS)

Doblin is one of the seminal figures in both the cultural history and the cutting-edge science of psychedelics. – Lex Fridman 

MAPS is particularly known for its research into the substance MDMA, and is in Phase 3 trials for MDMA assisted-therapy for PTSD. That makes it the world´s most advanced psychedelic-therapy trial to date.

“MAPP1 and MAPP2, the only completed Phase 3 trials of a psychedelic-assisted therapy, were conducted at 15 sites in the US, Canada, and Israel. Today, Phase 2 trials are being planned or conducted evaluating MDMA-assisted therapies for conditions closely related to PTSD, such as substance use disorder and eating disorders. Trials of other therapies in combination with MDMA are being planned or conducted, such as couples therapy and group therapy among Veterans. These additional Phase 2 trials will determine if MDMA-assisted therapies may be effective for other conditions or with other treatment modalities commonly used to address PTSD.” (read more here)

MAPS offers the chance to participate in an MDMA study here and you can register to be notified for upcoming MAPS MDMA Therapy Training Programs here.

Rick Doblin predicts that MDMA assisted therapy for PTSD will be sometime around April or May 2024. He wants to highlight that it is not the drug itself that is the solution but that it necessarily has to be done in combination with therapy to make a lasting change in the patient:

New video has surfaced (Jan 24) of @MAPS Founder/ED Rick Doblin predicting that #MDMA assisted-therapy will be approved in Q2 2024. His confidence resides from the recent Ph3 MAPP2 confirmatory study showing MDMA-AT effectiveness in treating #PTSD. $NUMI $CMPS @iamacalderon pic.twitter.com/mg7MgzygBx

— The Dales Report (@TheDalesReport) January 27, 2023