Mississippi lawmakers are set to consider allowing clinical trials into the therapeutic potential of the psychedelic ibogaine in the treatment of serious mental health conditions.<\/p>\n
A joint hearing of the House and Senate Public Health and Human Services Committees will take place on August 28, spearheaded by the House panel\u2019s chairman Rep. Sam Creekmore (R).<\/p>\n
The intent is to start the conversation about alternative treatment options for people with mental health conditions, particularly for military veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and addiction.<\/p>\n
Creekmore said the hearing is part of an \u201cimportant effort to bring wellness, healing, and recovery to Mississippians.\u201d<\/p>\n
The chairman said that the hearing will help inform legislation he\u2019s planning to introduce legislation, which he said is largely modeled after a bill that passed the Texas legislature<\/a> and was signed into law in June.<\/p>\n\n That measure will create a state-backed research consortium to conduct clinical trials on ibogaine as a possible treatment for substance use disorders<\/a> and other mental health conditions. The ultimate goal of the project is to develop the psychedelic into a prescription drug with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a critical step forward in our commitment to not just talk about the crisis our veterans and communities face, but to take meaningful, evidence-backed action,\u201d Creekmore said in a Facebook post.<\/p>\n \u201cRather than restoring quality of life, this pharmaceutical overload contributes to a crisis: More than 6,000 veterans die by suicide each year\u2014including 60 to 65 Mississippians,\u201d he said. \u201cCountless others suffer in silence, caught between failed drug strategies and no real alternatives. This is more than a medical failure. It\u2019s a policy failure\u2014and one we can change.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat path forward begins with ibogaine\u2014a plant-derived compound with extraordinary potential in treating opioid addiction, PTSD, and trauma-related disorders,\u201d the chairman said.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s be bold. Let\u2019s be early. Let\u2019s lead.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Patients, medical experts and veterans are expected to participate in the hearing later this month.<\/p>\n \u201cThis hearing is to bring awareness about this procedure, which is not well known, and answer any questions people will have,\u201d Creekmore told<\/a> The Magnolia Tribune.<\/p>\n\n
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