MDMA was originally developed by German scientists more than a century ago. In the 1970s some psychiatrists used the chemical to enhance communication with patients. The practice fell from favour when MDMA became better known as a party drug and the principal ingredient in ecstasy pills. ‘E’s kickstarted the ‘Second Summer of Love’ of 1989 in the UK and MDMA – also known as ‘molly’ – became intertwined with club culture. Today, psychiatrists are successfully experimenting with therapeutic MDMA as a treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with promising trials among US veterans. Last year, General Sir Nick Carter, the outgoing UK Chief of Defence Staff, gave his support to clinical trials of MDMA to treat British soldiers with PTSD. Early signs indicate it could be more effective than talking therapies, and offer thousands of veterans relief from serious mental trauma.

What kinds of PTSD does it work for, and are there any other banned substances which could be used in treating mental health conditions? Join us for this ThinkIn with General Sir Nick Carter and other experts and campaigners where we’ll explore how a Class-A recreational drug could become the latest psychiatric treatment.

Editor:
James Harding
Co-founder and Editor

Invited guests:
General Sir Nick Carter
Former Chief of Defence Staff

Gilly Norton
CEO, Support for Wounded Veterans

Rick Doblin
Founder and Executive Director, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)

Thursday 17 February

• PTSD in the armed forces: could MDMA be the answer ( Download)
• Could ECSTASY become a legal treatment for PTSD ( Download)
• MDMA Assisted Therapy for PTSD ( Download)
• Trauma Expert on Using MDMA to Treat PTSD (full episode) - Road to Resilience Podcast ( Download)
• Boulder Study Shows MDMA-Assisted Therapy Successful For Treating PTSD ( Download)
• Complex PTSD in 5 Minutes ( Download)
• 2-Minute Neuroscience: Sleep Paralysis ( Download)
• Hear the Latest About MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD from Dr Rick Doblin (USA) ( Download)
• What is trauma The author of “The Body Keeps the Score” explains | Bessel van der Kolk | Big Think ( Download)
• Overcoming the Silent Epidemic: PTSD and MDMA ( Download)
• Psychedelics for PTSD: Veterans, advocates seek to make the' long, strange trip' a bit shorter ( Download)
• The UGLY truth about military waivers ( Download)
• The Use of MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD and Addiction- Larry Leeman, MD, MPH ( Download)
• Aim High: The Long, Strange History Of Drugs In The Military | Answers With Joe ( Download)
• Emerging Therapies for Veterans with PTSD|| Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions | Marcus Capone ( Download)