Since its inception in 1997, AskMAPS has answered thousands of inquiries about psychedelics, therapy, and research each year. Krislyn LaCroix, MAPS’ Social Work Intern, is here to connect with the psychedelic community and provide educational resources.
My best friend is in dire need of receiving this treatment but I’m afraid the cost won’t be accessible to her. What is MAPS doing to ensure that low income patients may receive this treatment if needed and wanted?
Great question! Equitable access to MDMA-assisted therapy is core to MAPS’ principle of Healing for All. If MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD receives FDA approval, we hope for “broad market access,” so we’ve been working on the many factors that will be required to drive access, particularly equitable access.
- A growing pool of 30,000 trained practitioners who are themselves diverse and can deliver culturally competent care across that is diverse and competent in race, culture, geography, and life experiences (mapspublicbenefit.com/training).
- Generous patient assistance programs t o e a s e f i n a n c i a l b u r d e n s f o r treatment are already being planned for implementation if the treatment is approved. Today, the Expanded Access Patient Assistance Program (EAPAP) provides monetary support for patients who face financial barriers (maps.org/expanded-access).
- Flexible post-approval regulatory controls that are appropriate and evidence-based will prioritize safety without needlessly restricting broad, equitable access.
- Broad payer coverage from insurance companies and single-payer systems like VA will reduce financial burden for insured patients.
- Effective patient advocacy with evolving plans as we get closer to bringing this treatment to market.
I understand your best friend is looking for an effective treatment, however, I also have to note that the safety and efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD is currently under investigation. The treatment is not yet approved by the FDA, does not work for everyone, and carries risks even in therapeutic settings. Thanks for your question, and I wish both of you the best of luck!
I was wondering if there are trainings or certification programming to become a guide for psychedelic therapies? Does MAPS recognize any psychedelic therapy training programs as being more well rounded than the others?
Our own MAPS MDMA Therapy Training Program has been developed and refined by MDMA-assisted therapy practitioners in clinical studies for nearly two decades and is open to licensed therapists, residents and interns seeking licensure, and those with 1,000 hours of behavioral health experience.
Our therapy training program is also collaborating with other training or academic institutions to provide therapy training: California Institute for Integral Studies (CIIS), Fluence Training, Integrative Psychiatry Institute, Psychedelic.Support, Naropa University, and Sound Mind offer certifications, and many have been developed by long-time MAPS practitioners. They are great starting points for expanding your knowledge about the future of psychedelic science.
Krislyn LaCroix is a recent graduate, earning her Masters of Science in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work, with a specialization in Social Enterprise Administration while completing her field education as a MAPS Social Work Intern. She graduated from the University of California, San Diego in 2018 with a Bachelors of Science in Cognitive Science, with a specialization in Language and Culture, and a minor degree in Spanish Literature. Krislyn has a background working with at-risk youth in the greater Phoenix area to help improve social and emotional intelligence. Through interning with MAPS, she has developed a passion for substance-use harm reduction and champions for quality drug-use awareness across communities. In her free time, Krislyn loves crocheting, hiking with her dog, and playing tennis.
