UK Veterans Desperate for Breakthrough in PTSD Treatment as Former General Calls for MDMA Therapy to be Eased
A former head of the British military is urging the government to ease restrictions on a party drug commonly associated with recreational use, calling for it to be tested more cheaply as a potential treatment for veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Sir Nick Carter, who served as chief of the defence staff until 2021, believes that existing regulations are inflating the cost of trials, which could be disastrous for those affected. A single gram of "medical grade" MDMA currently costs around £10,000, compared to a street price of about £40.
The former general's plea comes after a study published in Nature Medicine found that 71% of participants who underwent MDMA-assisted therapy showed complete elimination of PTSD symptoms. This initial result has sparked hope among veterans like Martin Wade, a former lawyer with the British army, who developed complex PTSD after being deployed in Afghanistan in 2006-07.
Wade's experiences are chilling. He recalls deciding whether military operations were within UK and international law as the only lawyer on deployment, but found himself feeling increasingly responsible for what was happening on the ground. He also had to deal with a traumatic incident involving a soldier firing a warning shot into a car carrying civilians, resulting in three deaths.
Wade's struggles with PTSD led him to be abruptly discharged from the military and undergo further psychiatric treatment in hospitals. However, he has since found some relief through art therapy.
The charity Supporting Wounded Veterans, which Carter is patron of, aims to raise £2m to fund a further trial of MDMA-assisted therapy at the University of Cambridge. So far, they have raised £700,000. Wade hopes that this treatment could provide him with a new lease on life and help others like him.
By easing restrictions on MDMA, the government could unlock a potentially game-changing treatment for those affected by PTSD. With current therapies failing many veterans, Carter's call is a desperate bid to find a solution that could change lives.
"It gives you a sense of self-love when you're talking about difficult and ingrained experiences," Wade said of MDMA-assisted therapy. "Despite many years of conventional therapies... I've never been able to successfully eliminate hyper-vigilance, hyper-arousal, and flashbacks."
Wade's words echo the frustration felt by many veterans who have struggled with PTSD for years. He believes that if the government were to provide each veteran struggling with PTSD £80,000 worth of therapy, it could make a significant difference.
The government must act quickly to address this growing crisis. With Sir Nick Carter's plea echoing through the corridors of power, there is hope that a breakthrough in treatment may finally be within reach for those affected by PTSD.
A former head of the British military is urging the government to ease restrictions on a party drug commonly associated with recreational use, calling for it to be tested more cheaply as a potential treatment for veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Sir Nick Carter, who served as chief of the defence staff until 2021, believes that existing regulations are inflating the cost of trials, which could be disastrous for those affected. A single gram of "medical grade" MDMA currently costs around £10,000, compared to a street price of about £40.
The former general's plea comes after a study published in Nature Medicine found that 71% of participants who underwent MDMA-assisted therapy showed complete elimination of PTSD symptoms. This initial result has sparked hope among veterans like Martin Wade, a former lawyer with the British army, who developed complex PTSD after being deployed in Afghanistan in 2006-07.
Wade's experiences are chilling. He recalls deciding whether military operations were within UK and international law as the only lawyer on deployment, but found himself feeling increasingly responsible for what was happening on the ground. He also had to deal with a traumatic incident involving a soldier firing a warning shot into a car carrying civilians, resulting in three deaths.
Wade's struggles with PTSD led him to be abruptly discharged from the military and undergo further psychiatric treatment in hospitals. However, he has since found some relief through art therapy.
The charity Supporting Wounded Veterans, which Carter is patron of, aims to raise £2m to fund a further trial of MDMA-assisted therapy at the University of Cambridge. So far, they have raised £700,000. Wade hopes that this treatment could provide him with a new lease on life and help others like him.
By easing restrictions on MDMA, the government could unlock a potentially game-changing treatment for those affected by PTSD. With current therapies failing many veterans, Carter's call is a desperate bid to find a solution that could change lives.
"It gives you a sense of self-love when you're talking about difficult and ingrained experiences," Wade said of MDMA-assisted therapy. "Despite many years of conventional therapies... I've never been able to successfully eliminate hyper-vigilance, hyper-arousal, and flashbacks."
Wade's words echo the frustration felt by many veterans who have struggled with PTSD for years. He believes that if the government were to provide each veteran struggling with PTSD £80,000 worth of therapy, it could make a significant difference.
The government must act quickly to address this growing crisis. With Sir Nick Carter's plea echoing through the corridors of power, there is hope that a breakthrough in treatment may finally be within reach for those affected by PTSD.
I'm so tired of these forums being cluttered with comments from people who don't even know what it's like to struggle with PTSD. Can we please focus on the actual issue at hand? The fact that £10k for a gram of "medical grade" MDMA is just ridiculous 
. Our forum admin needs to sort out the thread limits or something, I'm seeing multiple posts from the same user and it's getting frustrating 
. Anyway, back to the topic - if Sir Nick Carter is saying that this could be a breakthrough in treatment for veterans, let's listen and support him 
. We need more voices like his advocating for change.
could be lifesaver 
for veterans with ptsd 
! current prices are insane £10k per gram 
! martin wade's story is heartbreakin 
he found some relief through art therapy 
but needs help. supporting wounded veterans charity is doing great work raising £700k 
! £80k per veteran for therapy would make huge difference 
I'm still thinking about what happened with Martin Wade... like, can you imagine being in his shoes and having to deal with all that on top of being a lawyer 
But are there more studies to be done? And how can we make sure that veterans like Martin get access to it?
Like, wasn't there another one published or something? Anyway, let's keep talking about this and see what happens 
It's a reminder that even in the darkest times, there is always hope for healing and recovery. I think it's amazing that Sir Nick Carter is using his platform to advocate for change and help get more funding for this research 
We need to keep pushing forward and supporting our veterans until we find a solution that works for them 
think it's crazy how desperate some vets are for a solution to their PTSD 
Like, 71% of people who did MDMA-assisted therapy got rid of all their PTSD symptoms? That's insane!!! And can you imagine having to deal with that kind of trauma and still feeling responsible for everything? 
Martin Wade's story is just heartbreaking. He deserves a second chance at life.
. I mean, £80k worth of therapy? That's like, a dream come true! And if Sir Nick Carter is calling for it, that's gotta count for something.
. Let's hope the government listens to Sir Nick Carter and gives these guys the help they deserve 
. Veterans like Martin Wade have been through hell & back, and we can't just sit around waiting for a breakthrough 
. The charity's goal of £2m is a good start, but £80k worth of therapy per vet would make a massive difference 
I mean its still a party drug right? We shouldnt just start giving it out as a treatment option without doing more research. What if we end up creating another problem? All the people struggling with PTSD are already feeling pretty messed up mentally... we cant afford to mess things up further 
the fact that 71% of people who used mdma-assisted therapy showed complete elimination of symptoms is massive 
.
. But hearing that Sir Nick Carter and others are advocating for change makes me feel seen 
.