Newsletter: October 2019 - Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies

Psychedelic Science Summit: November 1-3, 2019 in Austin, Texas

Zendo Project Raises 108% of Fundraising Goal

October 25, 2019

Dear friends and supporters,

All study sites for MAPS-sponsored Phase 3 clinical trials of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD have enrolled participants! We are continuing to accept applications for research volunteers. All volunteers will contribute to scientific knowledge as well as help us better understand if MDMA-assisted psychotherapy works for PTSD. MAPS conducts clinical trials under the guidance and regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in collaboration with all federal regulators, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). To apply to be a study participant, visit our website.

MAPS’ Psychedelic Science Summit, taking place November 1-3, 2019, at Fair Market in Austin, Texas, is sold out! This two-day educational conference features lectures and panels with more than fifteen leaders of the psychedelic renaissance, including author Tim Ferriss, MAPS Founder and Executive Director Rick Doblin, Ph.D., and Professor Carl Hart, Ph.D. This event includes a meet-and-greet mixer, benefit dinner, and presentations. To learn more, visit psychedelicscience.org.

We are so thankful for the outpouring of support for the Zendo Project! A total of 483 generous donors have raised $108,418 for psychedelic peer support services and education since the launch of our fundraising campaign on August 16, bringing us to 108% of our $100,000 fundraising goal. We extend our special thanks to those who provided matching grants for this campaign: the Riverstyx Foundation ($30,000), Connor Hill ($15,000), and Dan McMurtrie ($10,000). Our success is motivating and inspiring. We look forward to another year of providing peer support at festivals and events around the world!

A panel of speakers at the Sleeping Octopus Assembly on Psychedelics in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

MAPS had a wonderful time connecting with the psychedelic community in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from September 27-29, 2019, at The Sleeping Octopus Assembly on Psychedelics (SOAP). Hosted in partnership with the Pittsburgh Psychedelic Society, the intimate gathering featured two days of psychedelic education presentations, a MAPS benefit dinner, a visionary art exhibit, live entertainment, and much more. Thank you to all who attended! We appreciate your participation.

In this month’s edition of the MAPS Newsletter, you’ll also learn:

A study initiation visit has been completed for our new therapist training study in Santa Fe, New Mexico
We are hiring! Explore career opportunities at MAPS, MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC), and MAPS Europe
ABC 10 Sacramento interviews a former police officer and first responder who participated in a MAPS-sponsored Phase 3 clinical trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD

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

Thank you for reading, and we hope to see you soon!

With appreciation,

Amy Mastrine
MAPS Web and Email Marketing Associate

Treating PTSD with MDMA-Assisted Therapy

Phase 3 Trials of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD: Currently Enrolling

All fifteen sites have enrolled subjects for our FDA-regulated Phase 3 clinical trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) — and we’re seeking to enroll more volunteers.

Taking place across the United States, Canada, and Israel, study participants will be administered MDMA or placebo in conjunction with psychotherapy at research sites in the following locations:

Charleston, SC
Boulder, CO
Fort Collins, CO
Los Angeles, CA
New Orleans, LA
San Francisco, CA (UCSF and private practice)
New York, NY (NYU and private practice)
Boston, MA
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Vancouver, British Columbia
Montreal, Canada
Be’er Ya’akov, Israel
Tel HaShomer, Israel (Sheba Medical Center)

Phase 3 clinical trials are assessing the efficacy and safety of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in adult participants with severe PTSD. Over a 12-week treatment period, participants will be randomized to receive twelve non-drug preparatory and integration sessions lasting 90 minutes each along with three day-long sessions about a month apart of either MDMA or placebo in conjunction with psychotherapy. The primary endpoint will be the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5), as assessed by a blinded pool of independent raters.

The trials are the final phase of research required by the FDA before deciding whether to approve MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as a legal prescription treatment for PTSD. If approved, MDMA will be required to be used in conjunction with psychotherapy in a clinical setting.

To learn more about currently recruiting national and international studies, visit our participate in research webpage. • Learn More

Phase 3 Trials of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD: Now Enrolling

We are currently seeking research volunteers for Phase 3 clinical trials of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. Volunteers will help contribute to scientific knowledge and will help us better understand if MDMA-assisted psychotherapy works for PTSD. MAPS conducts clinical trials under the guidance and regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in collaboration with all federal regulators, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). To learn more about our clinical trials or apply to be a study participant, visit our new website: mdmaptsd.org.

Therapist Training Study: Study Initiation Visit Conducted for Study Site in Santa Fe, New Mexico

On Tuesday, October 15, researchers from MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) conducted the official site initiation visit for our new study site location in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for our ongoing Phase 1 study of the psychological effects of MDMA when used in a therapeutic setting by healthy volunteers. Enrollment in this multi-site study is limited by invitation only to therapists in training to work on MAPS-sponsored clinical trials of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. Our Santa Fe, New Mexico, study is led by Principal Investigator George Greer, M.D. Our Boulder, Colorado, study site is led by Principal Investigator Marcela Ot’alora, M.A., L.P.C. Zhenya Gelfand, M.D., is serving as Principal Investigator at the site in Charleston, South Carolina. As of October 8, 2019, 85 total participants are enrolled in this study. • Learn More

Startle Testing with MDMA: Seeking Study Participants

If you have tried MDMA, you may be eligible to enroll in this study investigating the effects of MDMA on the startle response. You will receive monetary compensation for completing the study. All involvement is confidential. This study takes place at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, please contact callan.m.coghlan@emory.edu. • Learn More

MDMA Therapy Training Program Update: October 2019

The MDMA Therapy Training Program has launched a series of trainings to prepare therapy providers to become eligible to work on an MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD protocol.

Our final training for 2019 was held October 1-8, 2019, in Asheville, North Carolina, and was led by Annie Mithoefer, B.S.N., and Michael  Mithoefer, M.D. 49 trainees gathered from around the world to attend the training. The international contingent consisted of eleven doctors and therapists from across China to receive training in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Evolve Foundation. The other 38 trainees hailed from fourteen different states across the U.S. Additional trainings will be announced once they are scheduled.  

In January 2019, MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) submitted an MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD protocol to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part of an application to participate in the FDA Expanded Access (EA) program. We’ve received and responded to several rounds of comments from FDA regarding our protocol submission for Expanded Access. The Expanded Access program’s purpose is to grant access to potentially beneficial investigational treatments for individuals or populations facing a serious or immediately life-threatening condition for which there is no satisfactory treatment currently available. If approved, MAPS PBC will start with a limited number of qualified  sites to provide MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for participants with treatment-resistant PTSD  under a MAPS PBC protocol.

Sites in the U.S. and U.S. territories interested in being considered to participate in an MDMA/PTSD protocol may now apply with MAPS PBC to assess eligibility and obtain the prerequisite training to administer MDMA-assisted psychotherapy.  The basic requirements of a qualified site are 1) treatment facility conducive to MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, 2) therapy team, qualified and able to complete MDMA Therapy Training Program, and 3) prescribing physician who can obtain a DEA Schedule I license for MDMA. 

Additional site and practitioner requirements are posted on our website. Each site must submit one site questionnaire and all applicants interested in training need to complete a therapy training application for providers. Only applicants affiliated with a qualifying site can be considered for training at this time. MAPS PBC will review applications on an ongoing basis, as they are received.  

Zendo Project: Fundraising Campaign Exceeds Goal

We are so thankful for the outpouring of support for the Zendo Project! Over 483 generous donors have raised $108,418 for psychedelic peer support services and education since the launch of our fundraising campaign on August 16, bringing us to 108% of our $100,000 fundraising goal. We extend our special thanks to those who provided matching grants for this campaign: the Riverstyx Foundation ($30,000), Connor Hill ($15,000), and Dan McMurtrie ($10,000). Our success is motivating and inspiring. We look forward to another year of providing peer support at festivals and events around the world! • Learn More

Support MAPS

September Giving Report: MAPS Raises $610,181, Surpasses Zendo Project Fundraising Goal

In September 2019, MAPS raised $610,181 in new donations and pledges from 953 supporters. Of that amount, $64,312 was for general support, $519,765 for MDMA research, and $25,903 was for the Zendo Project.

Throughout August and September 2019, MAPS held its annual crowdfunding campaign for the Zendo Project, a MAPS peer support program that provides training and services for challenging psychedelic experiences. To support our annual fundraising campaign, our international community generously donated $108,418 since August 16, 2019, surpassing our $100,000 goal. Donations to the Zendo Project were doubled by matching grants provided by the Riverstyx Foundation ($30,000), Connor Hill ($15,000), and Dan McMurtrie ($10,000). We extend our gratitude to all who contributed.

Currently, MAPS estimates $10 million is needed for European Medicines Agency (EMA) Phase 3 MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD trials to supplement the data gathered for the FDA. In May 2019, MAPS reached our initial goal of $2 million raised for this program, facilitating the continuation of critical start up activities for the planned trials in multiple European countries.

We extend a special thanks to those who so generously supported MAPS last month:

General Support:

Lopker Family Foundation ($20,000)
Michael Pollack ($5,000)
Highfield Foundation ($2,500)
Sam Shwartz ($2,500)
Kirsten Waerstad ($2,500)
Michael Pollan & Judith Beller ($2,000)
Anonymous ($2,000)
RollSafe.org ($1,443)
Anonymous ($1,035)
The Betsy Gordon Foundation ($1,000)
Anonymous ($1,000)

Harm Redution:

Anonymous ($5,000)
Tyler Borland ($1,000)
DanceSafe ($1,000)
Rachel Hamilton ($1,000)
Duncan Smith ($1,000)
Lisa Waugh ($1,000)
Anonymous ($1,000)

MDMA/PTSD Phase 3:

Good Ventures ($500,000)

MDMA Therapy Training Program:

Fred J. Brotherton Charitable Foundation ($10,000)

MDMA/PTSD in Israel:

Michael & Anita Siegal Family Foundation ($4,000)

Fiscal Sponsorship:

MDMA VA Couples Therapy

Lynne & M. John Richard ($5,000)

MAPS relies on the generosity of individual donors to achieve its mission. Psychedelic science is again being conducted under federal guidelines, but no funding for psychedelic psychotherapy research is yet available from governments or major foundations.

Together, we can legalize psychedelic medicine.
Donate now at maps.org/donate. Learn how to include MAPS in your will or estate plans.

We’re Hiring!

MAPS, MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC), and MAPS Europe are hiring and accepting applications for new career opportunities.

MAPS:

MAPS PBC:

MAPS Europe:

You can support psychedelic science by referring qualified applicants to these open positions.

Media

Featured Media: September 2019

ABC 10 Sacramento: How a First Responder Says MDMA Helped Him Get Past PTSD

September 16, 2019

Marijuana Moment: Psychedelics May Help Improve Symptoms Of Psychiatric Disorders, Review Finds

September 20, 2019

The Why from Newsy: Psychedelics Segment with Brad Burge

September 23, 2019

ABC 10 News: Opioid Addicts Seek Alternative Treatment in Mexico

September 23, 2019

United Press International: Psychedelic Drug Therapy Enters New Era With Johns Hopkins Center

September 27, 2019

Psychiatry Advisor: Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: How MDMA Is Changing Treatment for PTSD

October 7, 2019

MAPS Store

The Ethics of Caring by Kylea Taylor, M.S., M.F.T.

The Ethics of Caring is a unique and widely recommended text that complements standard ethics texts by helping the student or professional find right relationship with a client. Written for practicing therapy and medical professionals, bodyworkers, clergy, students, teachers, supervisors, and mentors, The Ethics of Caring model first promotes self-compassion, then gently guides self-reflection about unconscious countertransference that often occurs in the main areas of human life. The book illuminates many extraordinary types of human experiences to help professionals become aware in case clients bring these profound states in some way to the professional for support. • Buy Now

From Shock to Awe (DVD and BluRay)

From Shock to Awe is a feature-length documentary about how MDMA, cannabis, and ayahuasca are being used as alternative treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among some military veterans. The documentary centers on veterans Matt Kahl and Mike Cooley, and their challenging post-war lives, lives shattered by the trauma of war. The veterans personally struggle with anxiety, fear, depression, anger, and an overall inability to find an equilibrium in society and with their families. In order to deal with their erratic emotions and haunted state-of-mind, doctors prescribe intense pharmaceuticals with various side effects that bring them face-to-face with death. In response to the negative impact of traditional Western medicine, both veterans begin to use cannabis as an alternative. Although beneficial on many levels, our heroes yearn for deeper healing. • MAPS Store

Events

Browse our Event Calendar page for more opportunities.

Holotropic Breathwork Weekend Workshop, October 25-27, 2019, Stony Point, New York

Holotropic Breathwork is a powerful experiential process where each person uses their own breath and the music in the room to enter an expanded state of consciousness where there is infinite potential for transformation and healing. The workshop includes a talk about the power and practice of Holotropic Breathwork, two holotropic breathwork sessions, mandala drawing, sound meditation and group integration activities. To register, contact Dr. Laurane McGlynn at 610-248-6907 or email llaurane@aol.com. • Learn More

Navigating the Unique Concerns of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, October 26, 2019, Washington, D.C.

The human psyche has a remarkable ability to heal itself. Join Dr. Evan Sola and SGT (R) Jonathan Lubecky as they guide us through the unique terrain of psychedelic therapy, which has proven to assist the human psyche in healing from trauma and treatment resistant disorders such as depression, anxiety, and addiction in a surprisingly short period of time. This workshop will give you a solid understanding of the dynamics of this therapy and a foundation of best practices for supporting the inherent healing potential it activates. • Learn More

Dosed Film Screenings, October – November 2019, Global

After years of prescription medications failed her a suicidal woman turns to underground healers to try and overcome her depression, anxiety, and opioid addiction with illegal psychedelic medicine like magic mushrooms and iboga. • Learn More

The Future of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, November 1, 2019, Montreal, Canada

A new wave of clinical research involving psychedelic compounds shows promising results for mental health conditions. MDMA is at the forefront of this psychiatric research; a multinational clinical trial of MDMA-assisted treatment for PTSD is currently underway in Canada, the U.S., and Israel. Sponsored by MAPS, this research holds the potential to make MDMA available to the public as a medicine for use in conjunction with psychotherapy by 2023, revolutionizing treatment for one of humanity’s most debilitating forms of suffering. This evening talk for the general public will include MDMA research therapists introducing and exploring this exciting new frontier in mental health care, including discussing drug effects, the accompanying psychotherapy protocol, and the MAPS research program. • Learn More

Psychedelic Science Summit, November 2-3, 2019, Austin, Texas

Join MAPS and the psychedelic community at Fair Market in Austin, Texas for the first Psychedelic Science Summit! This two-day conference will feature lectures and panels from leaders of the psychedelic renaissance. You’ll have a chance to connect with the fast-growing international psychedelic community and explore the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead for the expanding fields of psychedelic science, medicine, and spirituality. Featuring keynote talks from MAPS Founder Rick Doblin, Ph.D., and mycologist Paul Stamets. Full schedule and speaker lineup to be announced soon. • Learn More

Psychedelics for Clinicians 101 & 102, November 2-3, 2019, Montreal, Canada

This 2-day training offered by psychologists Ingmar Gorman and Elizabeth Nielson is designed for clinicians and healthcare providers who want to learn more about current psychedelic research and clinical practice, including how to work with patients who have a history of psychedelic use or have expressed an interest in using psychedelics. This interactive training includes experiential learning and role-play exercises. It is the first time a program of this kind has been offered in Montreal. • Learn More

International Drug Policy Reform Conference, November 6-9, 2019, St. Louis, Missouri

The International Drug Policy Reform Conference is a biennial event that brings together people from around the world who believe that the war on drugs must end. Reform attendees have the opportunity to spend three days interacting with people committed to finding alternatives to the war on drugs while participating in sessions given by leading experts from around the world. • Learn More

More Joy Less Pain, November 11, 2019, New York, New York

World Premiere of the documentary More Joy Less Pain, a film surrounding the life of award-winning journalist and raconteur, Peter Gorman and his journeys to Peru. The event will begin at 6:30 PM with a talk by Peter Gorman. More Joy Less Pain will begin at 7 PM followed by a Q&A with the Director, James Michael McCoy and Peter Gorman. Please join us for this very special screening. Limited number of tickets available. • Learn More

Encountering the Numinous: Expanded States of Consciousness, Depth Psychotherapy, Analysis and Psychedelics, November 16-17, 2019, San Francisco, California

The “psychedelic renaissance” has opened up new vistas of possibility for healthy individuals engaging with the ordinary challenges of daily life yet longing for greater spiritual depth and meaning. What has emerged is the recognition that the healing potential comes not from the drug alone, but from the powerful numinous experiences that often emerge from these expanded states of consciousness — occurring within the context of a secure relationship with a therapist/guide in a contained setting. We will be exploring how a depth psychological perspective has been incorporated into current FDA-approved clinical trials targeting those struggling with hard-to-treat conditions.• Learn More

More Joy Less Pain, November 11, 2019, New York, New York

The Arizona Plant Medicine Conference, Tucson, Arizona, December 6-8, 2019

The purpose of The AZ Plant Medicine Conference is to educate the public on the benefits and options available in plant medicines. We’ll elucidate the latest research, and discuss how these medicines can help improve lives as well as the risks and contraindications. The event will educate the general public on the clinical use of these medicines as well as share the latest developments in research and use in clinical settings. This event will be an overview and education on how people who use these medicines can avoid or replace pharmaceuticals, alleviate pain or suffering where other methods have failed and ultimately get well physically, mentally, and spiritually. • Learn More

Participate in Psychedelic Research

MDMA Studies Sponsored by MAPS

MAPS sponsors clinical trials around the world that offer volunteers the opportunity to participate in our research studies. Our studies have strict enrollment criteria based on the goal of the study and the condition the study is investigating.

Phase 3 trial participant enrollment is now open. Please bookmark our Participate in Research page and check it frequently for updates.

Journey to the Edge of Consciousness

“Journeys to the Edge of Consciousness” is a part-animated feature length documentary film by producer / director Rob Harper. Take an animated trip into the depths of the human mind with three brave pioneers of the 1950’s/60’s Aldous Huxley, Timothy Leary and Alan Watts. The film presents three psychedelic trips by these three world-famous authors that together changed them, and Western culture, forever. Combining stylish, minimalist animation with a rich, immersive soundscape, Journeys creates a unique cinematic spectacle, inviting you to relive the highs – and the lows – of the psychedelic experience from the edge of your seat.” • Learn More

Ayahuasca Ceremony and Retreat Participant Survey

This is an anonymous survey gathering preliminary data about the safety and ethics of ayahuasca ceremonies in various settings. The data collection is a part of the doctoral dissertation work of the principal investigator, Jessica Brown, M.A., L.M.F.T. • Learn More

Psychedelics and Wellness Study (PAWS)

Following a four-decade moratorium, the therapeutic use of psychedelics has once more captured the collective attention of the medical community and the public at large. Now, at the forefront of a renaissance in psychedelic research, this study is investigating the interrelationship of psychedelics and mental wellness – a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.

To participate in this study, one must be 18 years of age or older and have taken a psychedelic at least once. The study’s anonymous survey requires responses to a series of questions and questionnaires related to one’s overall wellness, mood, and anxiety. This survey only takes about 8 minutes to complete. The results of the study will ultimately be published in a major medical journal. • Learn More

More News

Psychedelics, Sacred Medicines, and Purpose

Get free access to The Psychedelics, Sacred Medicines & Purpose conference. Over 25 experts, authors and leaders in the fields of psychedelics, sacred plant medicines, entrepreneurship, personal development, visionary art, music, and more share their stories and insights! • Learn More

Thank you to Dr. Bronner’s for their company’s support of the MAPS Newsletter!