In a surprising bipartisan effort, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) are advocating for increased access to psychedelic therapies for military personnel and veterans. This unusual partnership aims to address the growing mental health challenges faced by service members, particularly PTSD and traumatic brain injury.
Ocasio-Cortez highlighted the potential of these treatments, stating that current options are often ineffective for a significant portion of PTSD sufferers. Her concern echoes the rising rates of PTSD and TBI among veterans of recent conflicts, a problem that has significantly impacted hundreds of thousands of individuals.
Crenshaw, a Navy SEAL veteran who experienced combat firsthand, brings a personal perspective to this issue. He shared anecdotes of fellow veterans finding relief from PTSD through psychedelic treatments not readily available in the United States. He described this collaboration with Ocasio-Cortez as a "wild coalition," underscoring the unique nature of their partnership.
The two representatives sought to include their proposal in the National Defense Authorization Act. While a modified version was incorporated into the House bill, Crenshaw indicated that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has pledged to work towards a more comprehensive version during negotiations with the Senate. This expanded version would ideally include funding for clinical trials and broader access to these therapies.
Ocasio-Cortez urged veterans to advocate for the inclusion of this provision in the final version of the NDAA, emphasizing the importance of their voices in this process.
