Californian therapists have been granted permission to run a study determining whether ecstasy can be used as a treatment for anxiety in patients with life-threatening illnesses. Dr Philip Wolfson, who is a psychiatrist by trade and an advocate of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy by hobby, has recruited 18 people, for which he will study over the following 12 months.
Wolfson believes ecstasy is an alternate to sedation, stating that it “supports deep, meaningful and rapidly effective psychotherapy” when used in a safe and comfortable setting with trained therapists.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration has provided him with permission, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration have allowed him a license to administer the drug, meaning that as far as legalities go, Wolfson is completely in the clear to get people high in the name of research. 13 patients will be given the real deal, while five patients will be provided with a placebo. Follow up sessions will determine the specifics of the trial, which could take up to 15 months.
While the trial is specific to patients with severe illness, the results could mean that future applications for less severe circumstances are inevitably considered.
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