Canada must study psychedelic treatment for veteran PTSD ‘immediately’: Senate report

A Senate report is recommending the federal government 'immediately' conduct a 'major research program' into how psychedelics can help veterans suffering from PTSD.

A Senate report is recommending the federal government “immediately” conduct a “major research program” into how psychedelics can help veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In a press conference Wednesday, deputy chair of the subcommittee on veteran affairs, Sen. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, said they are “encouraged” by the evidence of the effectiveness of psychedelic therapy.

He said Canada is falling behind other countries, such as the United States and Australia, that have already begun studying how psychedelics can help patients.

In July, Australia authorized psilocybin-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant depression and MDMA treatment for PTSD. Alberta currently is the only province to issue guidelines on the use of psychedelics.

“Despite the evidence, Canada has opted for a wait-and-see approach,” Boisvenu said. “The time is now to act.”

The report examines psychedelics such as psilocybin, also known as “magic mushrooms,” MDMA and ketamine.

Boisvenu, along with subcommittee chair David Richards, told stories of veterans who had tried other medications and therapy — in one individual’s case, trying 11 different medications — without success, but saw a breakthrough with psychedelic therapy. Conditional treatment could even make matters worse for veterans, Boisvenu said, whereas psychedelics often give positive results.

About 10 to 15 per cent of Canadian veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD, according to the report. It also states that the suicide rate for male veterans is 50 per cent higher than the general population, stands at 200 per cent higher for female veterans and is 250 per cent higher for male veterans under the age of 25.