Dear Kate,

We hope you are all having a beautiful summer and staying out of the heat! This month, we are excited to share several important updates and achievements:

• Advocacy on Capitol Hill: Our president, Jon Dalton, recently advocated for federal approval of MDMA-Assisted Therapy, a significant step forward in our mission.

• Montreaux Summer Speaker Series: NCPM was honored to present at the Montreaux summer speaker series, where Jon delivered an impactful presentation.

• Expert Endorsements: Leading experts have endorsed MDMA-AT, emphasizing its potential benefits and urging FDA approval next month.

• Publication Announcement: Congratulations to Dr. Burton Tabaac on the recent publication of Psychedelic Therapy: A Primer for Primary Care Clinicians. This valuable resource is now open access!

Scroll down to learn more about these recent highlights and updates!

- The NCPM Team

NCPM Advocates on Capitol Hill for MDMA-AT

On July 9-10, NCPM teamed up with Jesse Gould and Heroic Hearts, The Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition (VMHLC), and Healing Breakthrough to lobby on Capitol Hill for federal support of MDMA-Assisted Therapy. NCPM President Jon Dalton, alongside fellow veterans, advocated for the urgent need for access to breakthrough therapies like MDMA.

Jon was one of eighteen veteran leaders from nine states participating in twenty bipartisan member meetings at the U.S. Capitol. While there, he met with the offices of Senators Catherine Cortez Masto, Jacky Rosen, Tommy Tuberville, Kevin Cramer, Bill Cassidy, and Texas Congressman Morgan Luttrell. After dozens of staff visits, Jon, other veterans, and supporters were greeted by Congressmen Jack Bergman and Lou Correa. This visit inspired Congressman Correa's moving speech at the press conference, where he poignantly asked, "How many of you veterans have to leave the country for treatment?" highlighting the injustice of not having these treatments available on American soil.

Montreaux's Summer Speaker Series

NCPM was honored to be invited to present at Montreaux's summer speaker series! On June 30th, Jon Dalton gave a talk titled "Saving Lives: A Navy SEAL's mission to revolutionize mental health through psychedelic therapy." Jon shared his personal story and life-changing experience with psychedelic medicine since retiring from the military. Jon provided a broad overview of the benefits of psychedelic therapy and the current state of legislation in Nevada.

Given the anniversary date of Operation Red Wings (a tragic moment in our nation's history when the SEAL Teams suffered a tremendous loss), Jon shared his first-hand account, putting a face on the heartbreaking losses experienced by our veterans, and the urgency to make these life-changing treatments available.

We were so grateful for the warm reception and the opportunity to meet new supporters, connect with old friends, and answer thoughtful questions on this important issue. We extend a special thanks to Kwang Kim for facilitating this opportunity and for his inspiring and compelling opening presentation!

Experts Endorse MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD

On July 7th, a letter supporting MDMA-Assisted Therapy (MDMA-AT) for treating PTSD was published by 22 leading researchers and clinicians. These esteemed experts, including Drs. David Nutt, Nolan Williams, Bessel van der Kolk, and George Greer, assert that MDMA-AT is ready for FDA approval, emphasizing the urgent need for this treatment.

In their conclusion, they state:

"While we agree with many of the issues raised by the FDA advisory committee, given the data we have reviewed and the urgency of the need, our assessment is that the benefits of midomafetamine-assisted therapy outweigh the risks and that midomafetamine is now approvable. The use of midomafetamine-assisted therapy should include a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) that can be adjusted as real-world safety and efficacy data emerge."

Read the full letter here: Scientist Statement on PTSD

We applaud the scientific community in their advocacy and hope that their voice has an impact as we await the FDA's decision on August 11th.

Congratulations to Dr. Burton Tabaac on this recent publication! Psychedelic Therapy: A Primer for Primary Care Clinicians consolidates research findings on various compounds, including psilocybin, LSD, DMT, ibogaine, MDMA, and ketamine, covering their pharmacology, safety profiles, and clinical applications. The primer aims to educate primary care clinicians about the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD, highlighting the importance of integrating these treatments into mainstream healthcare. Read the primer here.