The secretary of Veteran Affairs in the United States (VA) boasts that he is “one of” the first secretaries of his agency to have a strong commitment towards exploring psychedelics, as an option of therapy for veterans.
In a series of hearings held by the House Veterans’ Affairs and Appropriations Committees, multiple GOP legislators asked VA Secretary Doug Collins questions on psychedelics. Collins responded to the inquiries about his intentions to promote research and ensure access for veteran communities.
At the Veterans Affairs Committee hearing, Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI)—co-chair of the Congressional Psychedelic Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus—asked whether Collins had “any visibility” about the status of VA-supported psychedelics studies.
Collins stated, “We are getting closer.” “I was probably the first one to do it.” [VA] Secretaries have decided to look into it. We won’t just put it off. Under the rules set by Congress, we will do all we can to continue this investigation. “What we are seeing is very positive”.
“What we’re seeing so far in some of the studies that are related to VA, and also outside of VA as well,” he said, “is that there has been—especially when it comes to [post-traumatic stress disorder], and also traumatic brain injury and others—we’re seeing some actual positive outcomes there, especially when it is coupled with intense counseling. It’s one thing that I look forward to.”
“There are 11 current studies that are either with VA or around VA that we’re going to continue to look at, and I’m committed to working within the administration—but also in what we’re doing across the lines with [the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense (DOD] to say, ‘How can we actually make this a possibility?’ Let me say it now: I don’t believe that this is a magical cure. I don’t believe it will work on everyone. We’ll continue to investigate it.
Rep. Mariannette Miller Meeks (R – IA), who is a physician, endorsed Bergman’s statement that psychedelics should be available to the public. Miller-Meeks said she never thought she would advocate for psychedelics in her medical career but they “show potential in reducing PTSD or suicide.”
Scott Franklin (R) spoke at an hearing earlier that day before the Appropriations subcommittee for Military Construction, Veterans’ Affairs, and Related Agencies. He discussed his personal interest in policy relating to psychedelics as it relates to veterans.
I have personally lost several former Navy friends to suicide. And it is heartbreaking. “I’m open to anything that helps,” said the Congressman, who added that he never thought he would be in favor of using psychedelics.
He added: “I also know that I’ve had colleagues in Congress tell me how psychedelics have literally saved their life.”
Collins said he was “probably first secretary that actually stated I’m willing and open to looking at any of these treatment options that may work.”
“We’re also not claiming that psychedelics are the solution to everything, whether it is PTS, TBI, or other conditions. But it does go back to the question if there are actually treatments that we can show, clinically—which, by the way, 11 trials are going on right now in conjunction with the VA on the use of psychedelics. Other treatments have also shown some promising results. In any case, I will look into it. It’s not the only solution, and it probably isn’t, but can we provide it to veterans as a possibility? “I’ll have to take a look at it.”
In the meantime, Bergman, along with his PATH co-chair Rep. Lou Correa, (D-CA), introduced last month a bill to allocate $30 million annually for the establishment of “psychedelic centers of excellence” in VA facilities where veterans can receive innovative treatment using substances such as psilocybin MDMA, and ibogaine.
Bergman is also optimistic about the chances of seeing psychedelics legislation under Trump. She argues that Trump’s administration will be able to take on such complex problems with its efforts to trim federal spending and reduce the workforce.
Collins recently met with an army veteran who is now a strong advocate of accessing psilocybin to talk about the therapeutic potential psychedelics have for veterans.
The secretary, a former GOP congressman, wasn’t scheduled to participate in the meeting—but he proactively made time to introduce himself to No Fallen Heroes Foundation founder Matthew “Whiz” Buckley, who late last month directed a post on the social media site X to the secretary encouraging him to go “full throttle” on the push for psychedelic access for veterans.
The secretary informed Donald Trump separately during a cabinet meeting earlier this month that his agency “opened up the possibilities of psychedelic therapy” for veteran military personnel.
Also during this month’s Senate hearing, he reiterated that he was committed to exploring the effectiveness of psychedelic treatment to combat serious mental illnesses which are common among veterans.
Both the Republican and Democratic congressional members have asked that they meet with the VA director to discuss possible ways of providing access to psychedelic medication for veterans.
Correa, Bergman and others wrote Collins a note last week in which they expressed their “encouragement” at Collins’ recent remarks on the importance of research into alternative treatment options for Veterans.
Collins said that last month he and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of HHS Department of Health and Human Services had a “eye-opening talk” about the medical possibilities of psychedelic medication. Collins also said that he is open to having vouchers provided by the government to veterans receiving services from outside the VA to pay for psychedelic therapies.
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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, Rachel Yehuda, who has overseen some psychedelic research as director of mental health at VA’s James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 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, former VA Assistant Secretary of Health in January 2017, said it was “very encouraging”, that Trumps choice to make Kennedy the HHS head had supported 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.
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