If and when the FDA acts to legalize some psychedelic drugs for prescription use, Alaska should be ready.
After decades on the periphery of society, psychedelic drugs with the potential to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental issues are on the verge of getting their day in the sun. Although most people’s views of psychedelic drugs are informed primarily by their recreational use and sometimes-overblown Hollywood portrayals,the limited use of psychedelics to treat such disorders. And in the Alaska House of Representatives, a timely bill from Rep.
Rep. Armstrong’s House Bill 228 would “create a task force to consider barriers to the implementation of and equitable access to certain psychedelic medicines ahead of the expected FDA authorization of prescription drugs that would fall under this category.
Armstrong is careful to point out that neither her bill nor the panel it would create would take a stance for or against the legalization of psychedelic drugs — it’s meant to make sure the state is ready when those drugs become legal at the federal level. That’s an important distinction because experiments with carte blanche drug decriminalization have been broadly unpopular and unsuccessful due to the incredible addictive potential of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
There’s good reason for Alaskans to be hopeful about MDMA’s potential as a PTSD treatment. A trial whose results were published in 2021 found that 67% of study participants who received MDMA combined with therapy no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, compared to 32% in a different group that received therapy and a placebo. If that kind of efficacy holds when the drug is in broader use, it would be a game changer for PTSD sufferers — many of whom served our country in wars overseas.
HB 228 would help make sure that’s the case, and surely legislators can carve out a little time from squabbling over the size of the Permanent Fund dividend to attend to the mental health needs of our veterans and domestic violence survivors.Editorial opinions are by the editorial board, which welcomes responses from readers. Board members are ADN President Ryan Binkley, Publisher Andy Pennington and Opinion Editor Tom Hewitt. The board operates independently from the ADN newsroom.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Republican lawmakers abruptly cancel hearing on Alaska prison deaths over legal concernsRepublican lawmakers cited concerns about an ongoing wrongful death lawsuit against the state in which the ACLU of Alaska is co-counsel.
Read more »
Republican lawmakers abruptly cancel hearing on Alaska prison deaths over legal concernsRepublican lawmakers cited concerns about an ongoing wrongful death lawsuit against the state in which the ACLU of Alaska is co-counsel.
Read more »
Winter weather advisories issued as heavy snow makes return to SoutheastUnsettled weather in the Gulf of Alaska will keep daily rain and snow for Southeast Alaska.
Read more »
Alaska lawmakers to consider overturning 12 executive orders issued by Gov. DunleavyIt would take a majority of lawmakers in a joint session to overturn any of the orders, many of which seek to eliminate public oversight boards.
Read more »
Lawmakers review a bill that would criminalize abortion in AlaskaLawmakers on Wednesday began their review of a proposed bill that would end abortion access in Alaska.
Read more »
House spending plan includes funding for experimental Alaska reading institute despite lawmakers’ misgivingsHouse leaders appeared to heed a request by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to make the reading institute permanent.
Read more »