Party drug MDMA gets official approval as PTSD treatment
New Zealand has officially approved the use of MDMA-assisted therapy for patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Two psychiatrists have been authorized to prescribe the treatment, which aims to accelerate therapeutic progress by increasing emotional openness.
Why it matters
This regulatory shift represents a significant change in mental health policy, potentially offering new hope for treatment-resistant PTSD cases.
Two New Zealand psychiatrists have been approved by MedSafe to prescribe and administer MDMA for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.
MDMA is a synthetic psychoactive drug used recreationally, often called 'ecstasy', 'E' or 'molly'.
It is the first time Medsafe has granted approvals for this type of therapy.
Until now, MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD has not been available as a treatment option in New Zealand. Australia became the first country to allow authorised psychiatrists to prescribe MDMA for PTSD in July 2023.
The two psychiatrists with approval are Wellington's Dr Gary Wynn and Auckland's Dr Tom Paterson. The pair spent more than a year working through the regulatory process, they said in a statement.
Wynn specialises in PTSD and trauma, and Paterson in addiction.
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