Michigan lawmakers are calling on Congress to consider psychedelic treatment for veterinarians

Last week, lawmakers in Michigan passed a resolution calling on members of the U.S. Congress and the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to “prioritize research and investment in non-technological treatment options for service members and veterans.” who have suffered psychological trauma as a result of military service.”

The resolution spans three pages and was supported by more than 20 members of the Michigan Legislature. It was approved in the state Senate last Thursday.

The measure addresses the severe psychological distress endured by military members and states that “the men and women who volunteer to serve our country in the Armed Forces of the United States and the additional uniformed services, They generally do this with one.” They understand that such service may ultimately impact their physical and mental well-being” and that they “may have experiences that increase the risk of developing behavioral health problems, including traumatic brain injury , post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

“Effective treatment options for these conditions vary from service member to service member,” the resolution states.

“Non-technological treatment options, such as buddy-to-buddy programs, the controlled use of psychedelics in clinical settings, outdoor therapy, and easier access to service animals, among others, have shown promise in helping veterans manage their mental health Improving health and finding new livelihoods “We must create a new normal while dealing with the invisible wounds of war and service,” it continues.

The resolution states: “The families of service members should also not be forgotten and resources should be made available to help them understand and assist their loved ones who may be suffering from psychological trauma.” Family members of Military members or veterans with behavioral health problems may experience domestic violence and aggression, lower parental satisfaction, and behavioral problems in children,” and that resources “should include services to help family members deal with the effects of their family member’s service.”

Psychedelics are gaining popularity as a potential treatment option for people with mental illness, including military veterans who often return from combat with post-traumatic stress disorder.

In July, a bipartisan group of lawmakers met on Capitol Hill to add a provision to the National Defense Authorization Act directing the Defense Department to research psychedelic treatments at military installations.

The group was led by Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw.

“This is a really wild coalition,” Crenshaw said at the time.

“Psychedelics have shown promise,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “We urgently need the resources to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and depression. At least one in two PTSD patients cannot tolerate existing treatments or do not respond adequately to them.”

Earlier this year, President Joe Biden’s brother indicated that the CEO was open to psychedelic treatment.

“He’s very open-minded,” Frank Biden said in an interview at the time.

“Put it this way. I don’t want to speak; I’m talking brother to brother. Brother to brother,” he added. “The question is: is the world and the US ready for this? In my opinion, we are on the threshold of a consciousness that needs to be created in order to solve many of the problems in and around addiction, but more importantly to realize that we are all one people and we need to come together .”

However, Ocasio-Cortez appears unconvinced by the president’s openness. The New York congresswoman pointed to Biden’s record on cannabis reform, which includes historic pardons for those with federal marijuana convictions but also a tenacity to fully embrace legalization. Biden has previously indicated that he is open to decriminalizing marijuana use, but not to a complete end to prohibition.

“I believe the president has exhibited a regressive attitude toward cannabis policy,” she said in July. “And if there is a regression on cannabis policy, it will probably be worse on everything else.”

Michigan lawmakers hope there are favorable conditions for reform in Washington.

“The need to address veterans’ mental health is critical in Michigan. In 2021, 554,281 veterans were reported to be living in Michigan, ranking Michigan 11th out of 53 states and territories in veteran population,” the resolution states. “However, it was reported that 882 Michigan veterans died by suicide between 2016 and 2020.”

The lawmakers said they “urge the U.S. Congress, the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to prioritize research and investment in non-technological treatment options for service members and veterans who have suffered psychological trauma as a result of military service.”

They also decided that copies of their resolution “be transmitted to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, the Chairman and ranking members of the Committees on Veterans Affairs and Armed Services, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.” .”