MDMA approved by FDA for Phase 3 Clinical Trials to treat PTSD

Research into the use of psilocybin, ketamine, LSD, and MDMA to treat mental health conditions has gathered significant steam in the past few years. Positive outcomes have been reported repeatedly, especially when administered in microdoses under the care of a psychologist. MDMA is noted as an intense empathogen, removing psychological barriers and allowing for open and vulnerable work with a therapist. The story cites a 59% success rate upon initial administering of the chemical in a clinical setting to achieve significant treatment breakthroughs. However, FDA restrictions have limited studies of these controlled substances, just as medical research into the benefits of cannabis have been.
The FDA, now, has approved MDMA for the final phase of clinical trials, putting the chemical on pace to be legalized, clinically, in early 2017.


Philipps, Dave. (2016). "F.D.A. Agrees to New Trials for Ecstasy as Relief for PTSD Patients". New York Times. Web. 11/28/2016. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/29/us/ptsd-mdma-ecstasy.html

The US Surgeon General Report on Substance Use in America

The Surgeon General of the U.S. has issued a comprehensive report on Substance Use Disorder and Recovery. The paper advocates for an expanded and evidence-based public health approach to combat the negative effects of SUD on individuals and the nation. It calls for a significant change in public perception and barrier-enhancing stigma that impedes treatment-seeking behaviors; the Surgeon General draws parallels to the successes of HIV advocacy efforts, which disarmed the "fear and judgment" that kept individuals from receiving compassionate and effective medical treatment. The report also looks at the SUD crisis from an economic cost analysis basis, illuminating the public expenditures lost to the unchecked epidemic and the strain put on the public health system as a result.

Office of the Surgeon General. Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. Washington, DC: US Dept of Health and Human Services; November 2016. http://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov. Accessed November 23 2016.

https://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov/surgeon-generals-report.pdf

The research into the effectiveness of micro-dosed psychedelic chemicals upon mental health therapies continues to grow. This research article shows promising results, warranting further studies, for the use of pure MDMA (not street ecstasy or molly) to help treat social anxiety in adults on the Autism spectrum. Famous as a profound empathogen, MDMA appears to facilitate social interactions; 77% of the individuals studied in this trial reported the MDMA therapies made it "easier to talk to other people," notably the clinicians with whom they were working (Danforth, et al, 2015).



Danforth AL, et al, MDMA-assisted therapy: A new treatment model for social anxiety in autistic adults, Prog NeuroPsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2015.03.011

What is the main reason you chose collegiate recovery?

A key cog in the SUD recovery support continuum is the emergence of academic-based peer supports, notably Collegiate Recovery Centers (CRC), Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRP), and Recovery High Schools (RHS). For young people in early or long-term recovery, realizing a purpose-driven existence, together with a network of contemporaneous peers who share in the joys and challenges of academic life in recovery, is indispensable. This research article qualitatively analyzes students' self-reported experiences with collegiate recovery and their chief reasons for joining their respective programs.
In the comment thread below, please feel free to post your reasons for getting involved in a CRC, CRP, or RHS...


Alexandre B. Laudet PhD, Kitty Harris PhD, Thomas Kimball PhD, Ken C.
Winters PhD & D. Paul Moberg PhD (2016) In college and in recovery: Reasons for joining
a Collegiate Recovery Program, Journal of American College Health, 64:3, 238-246, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2015.1117464

UNT CRP OBJECTIVES: Promote recovery from substance use disorders, behavioral (process) addictions, and mental health illness by providing support and services to self-identified recovering college students

By creating a climate of openness at colleges and universities across the United States, more students will feel like they are able to be recovery from a multitude of disorders regarding substance use, addiction, and mental health. Recovery at a young age is a difficult and often shameful process regarding college, and not having resources to combat the issues during such a stressful time can cause higher dropout rates, or many people not attending college at all due to an obvious lack of available resources. With the UNT CRP being an integrated program not only for substance misuse, but behavioral and mental health, UNT is working to create and prosper more resources for students. A hefty percentage of the dropout rate for college freshmen is due to mental health concerns, which are typically co-occurring with substance use disorders. More students can successfully complete degrees while at college by utilizing resources at a college level. With an increased level of advocacy for these concerns, more people can attend college, complete degrees, and in turn successfully be members of the ever growing educated workforce. 

K.F.

UNT CRP Objectives: Provide formalized training courses for workforce development in the peer recovery, addiction treatment and prevention fields

The Collegiate Recovery Program at University of North Texas provides formalized training courses for workforce development in the peer recovery, addiction treatment, and prevention fields. As a program within the Department of Disability and Addiction Rehabilitation, many opportunities are available to the student staff and members of the program. We have held trainings for Peer Recovery Coaching, SMART recovery, Mental Health First Aid, among many others. We believe in equipping our students with a comprehensive toolbox on which to draw for the betterment of each person in recovery and future professionals in the field of substance misuse. We regularly partner with other prevention efforts on campus, and off, to increase awareness and educate people to make healthy and informed choices. Staff members of our program have also been active in assisting professionals become more holistic and recovery-focused by working with the department to disseminate SAMSHA’s Recovery-to-Practice Initiative in the State of Texas. We believe in empowering our students, and we believe in affecting change on a wider scale, through advocacy and education.

-T.W.

UNT CRP Objectives: Empower students to promote quality of life improvements

"The first objective of the Collegiate Recovery Program at UNT is to empower our students to promote quality of life improvements. Our program depends on the peer to peer support to build the recovery community we have here at UNT.  Recovery is a lifelong journey.  Through case management and peer recovery coaching we work to guide our students to become experts in their own recovery.  By sharing new skills and working with students to build their own recovery toolkits, they learn what helps make them stronger in their own recovery.  As we recover together, we each get stronger in our own recovery.  By empowering our students to take charge in their own recovery they start working towards additional goals in their lives.  Our students are learning empowerment and realizing they have the power and control over their lives and their future.  With increased academic goals new standards are being set.  Involvement in our recovery community is reducing student isolation.  The Collegiate Recovery Program at UNT is giving students the opportunity to regain a positive identity, find a sense of purpose and value, and work on becoming the person they want to be."

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A.C.