Australia will become the first country to reclassify medicines containing methylenedioxymethamphetamine, more commonly known as MDMA (ecstasy) and psilocybin, to treat certain mental health conditions.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced on Feb. 3 that they will permit authorised psychiatrists to prescribe MDMA for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.
MDMA is the active ingredient found in the party drug ecstasy, and psilocybin is the active ingredient found in psychedelic “magic” mushrooms.
From July 1, authorised psychiatrists with specialised qualifications and expertise to diagnose and treat patients with severe mental health conditions will be able to prescribe medicines containing these psychedelic substances….