Rogers Masson, a 55-year-old music producer and military veteran, battled night terrors for decades thanks to PTSD from traumatic experiences like military violence and family deaths. Conventional treatments were about as helpful as a chocolate teapot, but MDMA-assisted psychotherapy swooped in like a caped crusader to save the day, significantly reducing his night terrors.
PTSD affects 6% of the U.S. population, often sneaking past diagnoses like a ninja. Masson’s PTSD was triggered in 1989 during his military service after the Loma Prieta earthquake, when a collapsing wall killed his friend. Despite therapy and meds, he found them as comforting as a tepid cup of tea since there’s no cure.
Enter MDMA, the rock star of the ’70s and ’80s, now a Schedule I drug because of some bad PR during the War on Drugs. Rick Doblin founded the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) to research MDMA’s magic. In 2017, the FDA dubbed it a “Breakthrough Therapy,” and by 2020, MDMA-assisted therapy got the green light for 50 PTSD patients. The Pearl Psychedelic Institute, in rural Waynesville, offered a homey vibe and treated four patients, including Masson.
Masson had to wean off his meds before diving into therapy, which involved three epic eight-hour MDMA sessions. He described them as ten years’ worth of therapy crammed into one session. Post-session integration therapy helped him process his experiences. By the end, Masson and three others were no longer PTSD poster children.
Despite over 70% success in a Phase 3 study, the FDA rejected
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Reference: https://www.theassemblync.com/health/mental-health/nc-waynesville-ptsd-mdma-pearl-clinic/
Published Date: 2024-09-11