Arizona officials have approved and funded a first-in-the-nation clinical trial investigating the potential of whole mushroom psilocybin to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in first responders and military veterans—with authorization from the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Scottsdale Research Institute, in conjunction with Alira Health Research Company, is spearheading the study. In the first trial, eight police officers and firefighters with PTSD as well as eight veterans of war will take the psychedelic under medical supervision.
The Arizona Department of Health Services is supporting the historical research project through the passage of the spending bill signed by Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat from Arizona who signed a law into 2023 that allocated $5 million for grants to psilocybin research.
Nicole Nichols said, in a Tuesday press release, that “scientific progress” is crucial to ensure our healthcare decisions will be informed by sound research and data.
This FDA-regulated trial involves 24 participants who suffer from PTSD. They will receive 30 milligrams psilocybin, which is derived from 4.5 grams of psilocybin whole mushrooms grown by SRI under a Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Schedule I Manufacturer License.
Arizona Sen. Kevin Payne’s (R), the senator who championed a psilocybin funding bill, has said that Arizona is proud to “lead the way” with this groundbreaking study. The state, he added, was committed to an evidence-based and responsible exploration of treatment options.
SRI’s Sue Sisley stated that this landmark clinical study “reflects SRI’s mission to provide real data to guide policy, and to expand access to treatments that are promising for patients with PTSD.”
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The Arizona legislature approved two bills focusing on psychedelic therapies months ago.
Senate passes bill creating advisory board to study the science behind psilocybin and state/federal policies on the psychedelic. House approves separate measure for funding clinical trials of ibogaine.
The Democratic Governor vetoed an earlier version of a Senate psilocybin Bill that had regulated therapeutic provisions for adults. He argued, “we don’t yet have enough evidence to support widespread expansion in clinical practice.”
Meanwhile, ahead of the House vote on the ibogaine research bill, former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ)—who also championed psychedelics reform while serving in Congress—called on the state legislature to pass the legislation, while pledging to personally raise $5 million in philanthropic donations to support the psychedelic research if it’s is ultimately enacted.
Separately, Hobbs signed a bill into law last year that would allow firefighters and peace officers with PTSD to get workers’ compensation coverage for MDMA therapy if it is federally legalized.
Dick Culbert provided the photo.
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