The findings of an expert panel reviewing the use of psychedelics in treating Australia’s mental health crisis, give strong support to such treatments being introduced at this stage on a case-by-case basis, under the supervision of the patient’s doctors and trained therapists.
The Review findings reinforce the safety of using both MDMA and psilocybin psychedelics for strictly medicinal purposes.
Most importantly, the Review found that these medicinal psychedelic medicines have a “strong effect size” – that is, they actually help people get better from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, addictions, end-of-life stress and other mental illnesses. The Review Panel emphasised the importance of the medicines being administered in closely supervised settings and with intensive professional (therapists) support.
The Review follows Mind Medicine Australia’s (MMA’s) application to Australia’s Medicines Authority, the TGA, to allow these medicinal psychedelics to be used for medical purposes, whilst maintaining the prohibition on the use of psychedelics for recreational purposes. This step requires these medicinal therapies to be rescheduled as “controlled medicines” under the Poisons Standard.
For further information please contact:
• Peter Hunt AM, Chair, Mind Medicine Australia 0419 271 483 and peter@mindmedicineaustralia.org
• Tania de Jong AM, Executive Director, Mind Medicine Australia 0411 459 999 and tania@mindmedicineaustralia.org
Please note the following are also available for interview:
• The Hon. Andrew Robb AO (MMA Director) – Board Director of MMA and former Trade Minister to Australia who has had treatment-resistant depression for 43 years.
• Chris Barrie AC (MMA Director) – Board Director of MMA and former Head of the Armed Forces who says these treatments are the only hope for Veterans suffering from PTSD.
For further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact Ilan Hayman ilan@mindmedicineaustralia.org or Tania de Jong AM tania@mindmedicineaustralia.org. Phone: (03) 8679 6015 or 0411 459 999
