New Zealand’s pharmaceutical regulatory body (Medsafe) has officially granted two psychiatrists permission to use pharmaceutical-grade MDMA for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). With this decision, New Zealand becomes the second country in the world, after Australia (in 2023), to allow the use of this substance for managing severe psychiatric conditions.
According to the country’s Deputy Prime Minister, David Seymour, post-traumatic stress disorder ruins people’s lives and is difficult to treat with traditional methods. However, when combined with psychedelic-assisted therapy, MDMA demonstrates high efficacy. Seymour, who last year also supported the use of psilocybin (so-called “magic mushrooms”) to treat severe depression, emphasized that New Zealand continues to implement innovative medical approaches. PTSD itself is a severe mental health condition that develops following exposure to a threat of death, combat, or violence.
The New Zealand Ministry of Health clarified that the treatment protocol is subject to strict regulations, and patients are not allowed to take the drug home. MDMA-assisted therapy mandatorily includes psychotherapeutic sessions, and the full course takes place in a controlled clinical environment under the direct supervision of an authorized psychiatrist. Enrollment in the program is permitted only for individuals aged 18 and older.
In contrast to New Zealand, the medical use of MDMA remains restricted in the United States. In 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected the legalization of the substance, citing a lack of evidence regarding its safety and efficacy, although clinical trials continue in the country. Currently, pharmacological treatment for PTSD in the US is limited to only two types of antidepressants, which take three months to take effect and show inconsistent results in patients.
A study conducted in Israel also points to the potential psychiatric benefits of the substance. Specialists analyzed the events that unfolded at the Nova music festival and determined that attendees who had taken MDMA at the time of the attack handled the initial impact of the trauma relatively better. These data provide scientists with additional information on how the drug affects the processing of acute stress shock.
