Newsletter: January 2022 - Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies

Now Available Online: MAPS Bulletin – Vol. 21, No. 3.

January 26, 2022

Dear friends and supporters,

We hope your new year is off to a wonderful start!

We extend our gratitude to all our supporters who donated to our year-end giving campaign. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for exceeding our expectations in support of psychedelic science, education, and advocacy!

Newest MAPS Bulletin Now Available Online
We’re excited to share that the newest MAPS Bulletin: Vol. 21 No. 3, is now available online. This issue features original articles including EntheoGeneration: A Space for Community Connection by Ryan Jay Beauregard; This Is Your Mind on Plants: An Interview with Michael Pollan by Brad Burge; Indigenous Reciprocity Initiative (IRI) of the Americas: A Respectful Path Forward for the Psychedelic Movement by Joseph Mays, M.Sc., Daniela Peluso, Ph.D., and Bia Labate, Ph.D.; and Philosophy of Psychedelic Therapy: Existential Medicine or Comforting Delusion? by Chris Letheby, Ph.D, encapsulated by Catherine Nelson’s artwork.

View the Bulletin

Due to supply chain issues, there is currently a shipping delay for physical copies of MAPS Bulletin. If you receive a physical copy of the MAPS Bulletin, please expect delivery in 8-12 weeks. We appreciate your patience!

The MAPS Bulletin is published 3 times a year and mailed to members who donate $50 or more per year to support our research and educational initiatives. Thank you to Dr. Bronner’s for their company’s support of the MAPS Bulletin!

MAPS is Granted Innovation Passport in United Kingdom for MDMA as an Adjunct to Therapy for PTSD
We are thrilled to announce that the Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP) Innovation Passport has been granted to MDMA as an adjunct to therapy for PTSD in the United Kingdom!⁠ This ILAP designation acknowledges that MDMA-assisted therapy may have unique potential as a safe and effective treatment for PTSD. While the Innovation Passport does not reduce the burden of demonstrating that a treatment may be safe and effective, it does provide research organizers with expert advice, patient input, and collaboration throughout the clinical trial design and development process through a product-specific Target Development Profile.⁠

“The ILAP Innovation Passport will ensure MDMA as an adjunct to therapy can be made widely available, as rapidly as possible, for the UK PTSD patients who need it,” says Berra Yazar-Klosinski, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC).⁠ Read our statement about the ILAP here.

Awakn Life Sciences and MAPS to Explore Partnership for Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder in Europe
On January 19, 2022, MAPS entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Awakn Life Sciences Corp., a biotechnology company developing and delivering psychedelic therapeutics to treat substance use disorders. Awakn and MAPS will explore the feasibility of a partnership to utilize MDMA-assisted therapy to treat Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in Europe.

“MAPS’ role in driving and advancing the use of psychedelics in the clinical setting over the last 35 years is second to none,” said Anthony Tennyson, CEO of Awakn. Read our announcement about the agreement here.

The Zendo Project at Burning Man 2022

The Zendo Project will provide psychedelic peer support services for the 9th year at Burning Man 2022 in Black Rock City, Nevada! Zendo Project volunteer application details will be announced in March 2022. All volunteers will need to purchase their own Burning Man tickets. Stay tuned to the MAPS Newsletter or the Zendo Project Email Newsletter for future details. We are looking forward to reconnecting with the amazing volunteers that make this project thrive!

Mark your calendars to register for the first round of Burning Man 2022 ticket sales. The FOMO sale starts today– find out details by visiting the Burning Man Ticket Sale Webpage.

Media Highlights
Forbes recognized the accomplishments of MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC), calling attention to its women-led and mission-driven public benefit model.

“The structure of the corporation isn’t the only thing that makes it stand out from other for-profit companies pursuing an interest in psychedelics, where for the most part, executive-level staff are men.” MAPS PBC “is led primarily by a team of intrepid women,” explains Amanda Siebert.Psychology Today listed psychedelic-assisted therapy as one of the “5 Big New Trends” in mental health, due in part to the successful results of MAPS’ first Phase 3 clinical trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, which were published in Nature Medicine in 2021.

Visit MAPS in the Media to read more recent media coverage about MAPS!

Therapist Training Session Completed in Israel
MAPS Israel hosted a MDMA-assisted therapy training for 75 therapists in Neve Shalom, Israel, in October 2021. During the week-long training, participants were exposed to clinical content focusing on the therapeutic approach of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. The training focused on the core principles and skills of the therapist who will administer MDMA-assisted therapy via case presentations, videos, and experiential exercises based on mindfulness, role-playing games, and discussions in small and large groups. An additional training will launch in September 2022.

Take the Canadian Psychedelic Association Survey
The Canadian Psychedelic Association Survey is conducting the most comprehensive assessment of Canadian psychedelic use to date. The team seeks a better understanding of psychedelic use in Canada to help develop evidence-based policies and practices. Take the survey to be entered to win one of three $500 Amazon gift cards!

Upcoming Psychedelic Events
You’re invited to join MAPS and our partners for several upcoming psychedelic events!

The Drug Policy Alliance is hosting a two part virtual series, Declining to Prosecute: The Role of Prosecutors in Drug Decriminalization and Promoting Public Health on February 9 and February 16. Psychedelic Support is hosting a webinar called MAPS Commercialization Process: Taking MDMA to the Clinic on February 11. The 45th Annual Psychotherapy Networker Symposium takes place in Washington D.C. from March 10-13. The Center for Optimal Living is hosting an 8-week virtual training, Working with Psychedelics to Treat Substance Use Issues, from February 4 to March 25.

We’ll be hosting Psychedelic Science 2023, the fourth in a series of Psychedelic Science conferences, from June 19-25, 2023, in Denver, Colorado. Previous Psychedelic Science conferences hosted by MAPS took place in 2010, 2013, and 2017 when 3,000 people gathered for the largest psychedelic conference ever. We’re anticipating 10,000 people at Psychedelic Science 2023! Visit the PS23 website to register or sign up for updates.

Check out our events webpage for more opportunities to connect with the psychedelic network!

Open Job Positions with the MAPS Network
MAPS, MAPS PBC, and MAPS Europe are continuing to hire! MAPS is looking for several Major Gifts Officers. MAPS PBC is seeking a Financial Analyst, Director of Clinical Operations, Talent Acquisition Specialist, and others. MAPS Europe is seeking a Medical Monitor. Visit our jobs webpage to browse all open positions.

Call for Papers for Frontiers in Psychiatry
We are accepting manuscript applications for the Special Issue in Frontiers in Psychiatry, “MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Treatment of PTSD and Beyond,” which features guest editors from MAPS and MAPS Public Benefit Corporation. This is a unique opportunity to expand your presence in the field of psychedelic science! The deadline for abstract submissions is February 28, 2022. Submit your paper using this link.

Follow MAPS on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Stay well out there, and stay subscribed to the MAPS Newsletter for future psychedelic updates!