President Donald Trump has reaffirmed the federal government’s plan to treat veterans suffering with mental health conditions like PTSD and TBI with psychedelic drugs, as he announced new research into the matter.
Writing on his social media platform Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump announced that the University of Miami in Florida had made an application to the FDA to obtain permission to administer ibogaine in clinical trials. Ibogaine is a naturally occurring psychoactive and hallucinogenic compound that is found in the root bark of the Tabernanthe iboga shrub, a plant native to Central Africa.
It comes after Trump issued an executive order in April, calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to facilitate access to psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine compounds, psilocybin, ketamine, LSD and MDMA, for eligible patients suffering from major depressive disorder and substance abuse disorders.
The order directed federal agencies to fast-track psychedelic therapy research, allocating roughly $50 million through ARPA-H for state programs.
In his latest Truth Social post, Trump reaffirmed this commitment before explaining the university’s intent.
“In April, I signed a very important Executive Order to accelerate medical treatments for serious mental illness. Specifically, psychedelic drugs, including IBOGAINE,” he wrote.
“This is something that has helped so many of our amazing VETERANS and true American Heroes who were here in the Oval Office with me, and Joe Rogan. Today I am announcing that [Department of Health and Human Services] Secretary [Robert F.] Kennedy has received a Historic Gift from the University of Miami, who has given the Federal Government its original 1994 Ibogaine Investigational New Drug application.”
Military.com reached out to the University of Miami for comment.
Proponents claim that ibogaine can treat severe PTSD by promoting neuroplasticity and eliminating opioid withdrawal symptoms. However, it remains a Schedule I controlled substance in the U.S. due to documented cardiac risks.
Research into Psychedelic Drugs
Since signing his executive order, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and various research institutions have launched clinical trials into psychedelic drugs.
Earlier this month, the VA started evaluating the efficacy and safety of psilocybin—the main ingredient in magic mushrooms—in treating veterans with treatment-resistant depression and PTSD, both conditions that disproportionately affect the veteran population.
Psilocybin is authorized for treatment-resistant depression in Australia, while Switzerland also allows it in limited contexts.
In May, the VA announced a new clinical trial of methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted therapy (MDMA) to evaluate the safety and efficacy when treating current and former military personnel for severe mental health disorders, including PTSD. That trial will enroll some 80 veterans and will be conducted with the FDA.
Overall, the VA is involved in 20 active clinical trials in which they are testing psychedelic therapies for mental health conditions.
Trump added that the Miami application will allow the drug’s “development as a medical treatment” to accelerate and thanked the university “who has done this to ensure that Americans are helped as quickly as possible.”
“We are moving FAST, so that our Veterans with serious mental illness have a RIGHT TO TRY here in the U.S.,” he added. “We hope to see more companies and institutions join us in this very important work. Our Veterans DESERVE it!”
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