Turning Setbacks into Strengths: The FDA’s MDMA Decision and the Future of Psychedelic Therapy

With the FDA’s unfortunate decision to deny the legalization of MDMA, the world of psychedelic therapy is presented with a unique challenge. Much has been said about the disappointing nature of this decision and the potential harm it could cause by denying clients access to potentially life-saving medicine.

However, I want to focus this blog on the potential positives that this decision offers. In psychedelic therapy, we often ask clients and practitioners not to shy away from the challenging and disturbing experiences that may arise. In a similar vein, we can view the FDA’s decision as an opportunity to refocus and strengthen the resolve of the work that is already in progress. While many psychedelic medicines remain under research, the “dissociative anesthetic” ketamine remains accessible to those in need. The refocusing I propose is this: while the medicine itself is important in certain situations and for specific individuals, it is not as important as the therapeutic work that the medicine facilitates. As we reflect on the limitations of the Western medical model of healing, we can see the FDA’s decision as one that requires further validation of the potential of psychedelic therapy. Although we may disagree with the Western model or seek to integrate holistic practices into psychedelic therapy, we still operate within that system. Therefore, we must respond to its critiques in order to shift it towards the integrative approach that many of us believe is more appropriate for our clients.

Refocusing in this context means directing our attention to the work that is already being done for individuals suffering from mental and emotional distress. Ketamine not only offers relief from symptoms, but when used in conjunction with psychotherapy and deep self-exploration, it can provide many of the same benefits that other psychedelic medicines, such as MDMA or psilocybin, have been proposed to offer.

In my work with ketamine, I have had the honor of witnessing clients process incredibly traumatic experiences, return to their authentic selves before the onset of anxiety and depression, and reawaken with a renewed curiosity about their conscious experience. Through these methods, people find ways to reconnect with themselves. The promise that exists with MDMA also exists with ketamine, and for now, it is only legally accessible through ketamine. This is where our work lies at present. It is the responsibility of those with the capacity and resources to continue investigating other medicines, to do so. It is the responsibility of those in the trenches to continue the day-to-day fight using the tools we have at hand, to do so. We should not become mired in frustration with the static nature of Western institutions. Instead, let us bring to them a renewed sense of vitality, and a rededication to the clients we are already serving. Let us present the facts that the FDA needs and validate the promises of MDMA through rigorous scientific methods.

If we ask our clients in psychedelic therapy to approach their experiences nonjudgmentally and with a mindset of non-linear goal completion, we should reframe our frustration with the FDA in a similar way. Let us provide them with the data they request, overwhelm them with stories of success, and show them the depths of the mental health epidemic and the inadequacies of our current system. Let them grapple with the consequences of maintaining suffering for those who do not deserve it.

If you are in this field and believe in the healing potential of psychedelic medicine, I implore you to do the hard work. Do not get bogged down by disappointment. Do not let resentment turn into resignation. Do not focus on issues that awareness alone cannot change. Instead, let us come together, as humans have throughout history, and harness the power of community to bring these medicines to the people who need them.