Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) says the psychedelic ibogaine represents an “astonishing breakthrough” in the nation’s current “sick care system” that’s left people with serious mental health conditions without access to promising alternative treatment options—and he intends to use his influence to advance the issue.
Gingrich has a mixed track record when it comes to drug policy reform. He spoke recently with W. Brian Hubbard of Americans for Ibogaine, the executive director, in a podcast. In the interview, he showed a keen interest in promoting the use of the psychedelic, which is used for conditions like post-traumatic disorder (PTSD), traumatic head injury (TBI), and substance abuse.
The former speaker is adding his voice to a growing, bipartisan choir of voices from current and former officials who see an opportunity with psychedelics to fill the treatment gap in the U.S.—particularly for military veterans.
Gingrich said, “This could represent a breakthrough in a losing battle against addiction that has lasted for years across the country. “It strikes me that the whole ‘Make America Healthy Again’ movement—that this could be a very significant building block in getting us back to being a country that’s not addicted. “I can’t think of a better podcast to talk with you about it.”
He said, “We have a sick-care system but we really need a health care system.” This is a great example. “This is very, extremely exciting to me.”
Gingrich, who acknowledged the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) need to “balance risks against certainty” and emphasize the necessity of studies supporting the use and abuse of ibogaine “in a controlled setting,” said he felt “so motivated” after his conversation with Hubbard. “I personally will be heavily engaged” in moving this idea around and encouraging others to consider it.
The former speaker said, “You are doing something amazing that could save several millions lives over the next few generations.” Former speaker, “It’s incredible,” said.
This message about the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics was spread in various ways.
In a Fox News Interview this week, for example, the Navy SEAL Veteran credited with the killing of Osama bin Laden stated that the psychedelic treatment has helped him to process the trauma that he suffered during his military service. He stressed that the therapy “works” and that it should be a viable option.
That interview came days after the U.S. House of Representatives included an amendment to a spending bill from Reps. Lou Correa (D-CA) and Jack Bergman (R-MI) that would encourage VA to support research into the benefits of psychedelics in treating medical conditions commonly affecting military veterans.
Last month, meanwhile, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said his agency is “absolutely committed” to expanding research on the benefits of psychedelic therapy and, alongside of the head of FDA, is aiming to provide legal access to such substances for military veterans “within 12 months.”
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins also disclosed in April that he had an “eye-opening” talk with Kennedy about the therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicine. In April, Collins said he was open to the notion of the VA providing vouchers for veterans to use psychedelic medicine outside VA.
Collins also recently visited a facility conducting research on psychedelics, and he reiterated that it’s his “promise” to advance research into the therapeutic potential of the substances—even if that might take certain policy changes within the department and with congressional support.
The secretary’s visit to the psychedelics research center came about a month after the VA secretary met with a military veteran who’s become an advocate for psilocybin access to discuss the therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicine for the veteran community.
Collins also briefly raised the issue in a Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump in April.
Meanwhile last month, bipartisan congressional lawmakers asked the VA head to meet with them to discuss ways to provide access to psychedelic medicine for military veterans.
In a letter sent to Collins, Reps. Lou Correa (D-CA) and Jack Bergman (R-MI)—co-chairs of the Congressional Psychedelic Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus—said they were “encouraged by your recent remarks about the importance of pursuing research into psychedelic treatments and other alternative treatments to improve Veterans’ care.”
Correa and Bergman separately introduced a bill in April to provide $30 million in funding annually to establish psychedelics-focused “centers for excellence” at VA facilities, where veterans could receive novel treatment involving substances like psilocybin, MDMA and ibogaine.
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Bergman has also expressed optimism about the prospects of advancing psychedelics reform under Trump, arguing that the administration’s efforts to cut spending and the federal workforce will give agencies “spines” to tackle such complex issues.
Kennedy, for his part, also said in April that he had a “wonderful experience” with LSD at 15 years old, which he took because he thought he’d be able to see dinosaurs, as portrayed in a comic book he was a fan of.
Kennedy criticised the FDA in October last year for its “suppression” of psychedelics and an array of other problems that he claimed amounted a “war against public health” which would cease under Trump’s administration.
In December, VA separately announced that it’s providing $1.5 million in funding to study the efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy for veterans with PTSD and alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Last year, VA’s Yehuda also touted an initial study the agency funded that produced “stunning and robust results” from its first-ever clinical trial into MDMA therapy.
Shereef Enahal, the former VA under secretary for health who was appointed by Trump to lead HHS in January said it was “very encouraged” that Trump had chosen Kennedy as his HHS leader and that Kennedy supported reform of psychedelics. And he hoped to work with him on the issue if he stayed on for the next administration, but that didn’t pan out.
Image courtesy Flickr/Scamperdale
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