PTSD and Psychedelic Drugs – Treatment for the Future?
May 05, 2022
Cannabis is a common drug now being used in the medical community. It is known to offer anti-inflammatory properties. On the other hand, psychedelics, currently being studied for further medical applications, are being employed to treat mental health conditions and severe drug-resistant depression.
The most often used psychedelic substances used in treatment today include:
- Ketamine
- Psilocybin – also referred to as Magic Mushroom
- Ibogaine
- LSD – lysergic acid diethylamide
- Dimethyltryptamine – known as DMT
- 3,4-Methylenediocymethamphetamine – better known as MDMA
These drugs are being assessed for treating neuropsychiatric severe and neurodegenerative disorders that include:
- Major Depressive Disorder or MDD
- Bipolar and other anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, well-known PTSD
- Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
- Parkinson’s Disease (PD)
In a fast-changing world with novel viruses, war-time experiences, and complex survival challenges in overcoming life-shattering situations, novel drugs are being considered to deal with the symptoms. The latest drugs being researched are based on natural substances and are being more widely used to calm conditions of the mind.
Traditional drugs, while efficacious, have serious side effects, causing many patients to avoid them. Additionally, many of the drugs currently used to deal with issues such as PTSD take a long time to become effective. Mental issues are the most expensive medical issue in the United States. In 2019, approximately 51.5 million Americans lived with mental health issues. The cost of drugs for PTSD and other mental health issues and the isolation, depression, and trauma associated with Covid-19 have run into the tens of billions of dollars annually.
Psilocybin, already a proven alternative to the usual antidepressants, may be the next drug offering of choice. It is known to be as effective as the number one selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
There are many new alternatives on the horizon for those who have PTSD. If you are a veteran and have symptoms related to a traumatic event, you may be eligible for disability benefits from VA.
To be eligible for disability benefits from VA, the following must be true:
- The stressor happened while you were in service
- You are unable to function as well as you used to due to your symptoms
- A physician diagnosed with PTSD
The VA considers a traumatic event an instance where service members sustained a severe injury, personal or sexual trauma, sexual violation, or were threatened with harm, sexual assault, or death. To obtain benefits, you must file a claim for disability compensation. This is not always an easy process, and our office is here to offer you any assistance you may need to navigate the process of filing.
Suppose you run into difficulties seeking veteran’s benefits. In that case, Legal Help For Veterans PLLC is a nationwide VA Disability law firm that assists veterans and their family members in all federal VA benefit matters.
Legal Help for Veterans PLLC has a national practice representing veterans from across the country. We have helped veterans collect over $30,000,000 annually in future and retroactive benefits.