shades fills you in

Scientific American: MDMA -- aka Molly, M, Ecstasy, X, etc. -- is a Schedule 1 controlled substance best known as a party drug. But new research suggests that MDMA + therapy is seriously effective at treating PTSD

Psychedelic-Spotlight offers a brief history: It was first synthesized in 1912, and used for treatment in the 60s and 70s. By the 80s, it became a popular party drug and got swept up in the war on drugs

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Study has been studying MDMA for years. In 2021, they ended a Phase 2 study, concluding the drug was “a potential breakthrough treatment that merits expedited clinical evaluation”

Insider explains how treatment works: Three 8-hour sessions with two therapists, plus time before and after to prepare and debrief. It’s supposed to help with trauma

The NYT says this is potentially huge, especially for veterans with PTSD -- which is notoriously tough to treat. It could save so many lives

But The-Cut is seriously anti. The researchers in the phase 2 study are biased, their success reports are misleading, and some patients report adverse effects or even abuse during treatment

And the conversation warns us not to get overhyped. MDMA isn’t a magic bullet; we still don’t really know how it works. And there are all kinds of potential risks

There are anecdotal accounts of it working, though. InStyle spoke to a woman who tried MDMA therapy for her PTSD following a sexual assault. She says she got her life back

And this vet tells Today.com that MDMA therapy is the reason he’s still alive today

Health.com is very pro, but points out the hurdles to MDMA going mainstream -- like stigma, lack of diversity, and the potential for substance abuse

This Black therapist writing for Self.com says the field definitely needs to diversify. In order for this treatment to really work, it needs to include culturally sensitive practices

By the way, The NYT says it could help beyond PTSD -- with relationship therapy too. They spoke to multiple couples who tried MDMA (on their own) to help them reconnect. Some say it saved their marriage

And Filter Magazine reports on a small study suggesting that MDMA could help relieve social anxiety for adults with autism