Sir Nick Carter, the former head of the British military, has made a compelling call for the government to support expanded trials of MDMA-assisted therapy for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. This urgent appeal follows a groundbreaking study published in Nature Medicine, which demonstrated that PTSD symptoms were completely eliminated in an impressive 71% of the 52 cases tested using this innovative treatment approach.
The High Cost of Medical Research
The former chief of the defence staff, who served until 2021, has highlighted a significant financial barrier to further research. Current regulations mean that a single gram of medical-grade MDMA costs approximately £10,000, compared to a street price of just £40. This enormous price difference dramatically inflates the cost of clinical trials, making research prohibitively expensive for many institutions.
"What we want is for the government to make the cost of trials much cheaper," Carter explained. "We're not asking for MDMA to be declassified, but there should be some sort of reduction in its classification when it comes to medical treatment."
Beyond Military Applications
Carter emphasised that the potential benefits of this treatment could extend far beyond military veterans. "This could help not just veterans, but others such as police and workers in other emergency services and the NHS as well," he noted, suggesting a much broader application for this therapeutic approach.
Currently classified as a Class A drug in the United Kingdom, MDMA remains illegal for sale or possession, though it continues to be available through black market channels. For clinical use, researchers must import the substance from abroad and transport it in specially secured convoys, adding further to the already substantial costs.
Current Research Initiatives
A research group at the University of Cambridge has embarked on an ambitious fundraising campaign, seeking to raise £2 million to fund a further trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for approximately 40 participants. This initiative represents a partnership with the charity Supporting Wounded Veterans, of which Carter serves as patron.
According to Gilly Norton, chief executive of the charity, £700,000 has already been raised toward this goal. The planned tests aim to include a diverse group of participants, including veterans, first responders, and war correspondents, all suffering from PTSD within the UK.
How MDMA-Assisted Therapy Works
When used recreationally in small doses, MDMA produces feelings of euphoria and acts as an empathogen, enhancing feelings of wellbeing, empathy, and compassion. Mental health researchers are particularly interested in harnessing these qualities for therapeutic purposes.
A complete course of MDMA-assisted therapy typically consists of two or three intensive eight-hour sessions with a qualified therapist. During these sessions, patients explore underlying psychological issues that they would normally resist addressing in conventional therapy settings.
"Essentially it affects the plasticity of the brain," Carter explained. "So when the psychiatrist asks questions, the patient is much more responsive. The process needs to be closely supervised; it's not about creating a trip, but having the right effect."
Personal Testimonies Highlight Need
Martin Wade, a 53-year-old former British army lawyer, represents one of many veterans who could potentially benefit from this treatment approach. Wade developed complex PTSD several years after being deployed to Helmand province, Afghanistan, with the Royal Marines between 2006 and 2007.
During his deployment, Wade faced extraordinary pressures as the only lawyer responsible for determining whether proposed military operations complied with UK and international law. "What I found particularly difficult was that as time went on, I felt more and more responsible for what was happening on the ground," Wade recalled.
His duties also included conducting initial inquiries into incidents involving civilian casualties, determining whether military police investigations were warranted. One particularly traumatic case involved a soldier firing a warning shot that ricocheted and killed three civilians, including a mother and her three-year-old child.
"One round, three dead civilians, no bombs onboard, and you've got this young 18- or 19-year-old and the rest of the convoy really quite traumatised by it," Wade described. "I'm flying out to deal with this, and all of a sudden ... I can feel my body now. Where do you start?" He ultimately concluded it was "a terrible, terrible mistake."
The Long Road to Recovery
In the years following his deployment, Wade struggled with alcohol abuse and deteriorating mental health before receiving a PTSD diagnosis and being discharged from the military. Subsequent psychiatric treatment in hospital settings gradually improved his condition, aided by his development as an artist.
Wade expressed strong interest in trying MDMA-assisted therapy, believing that the trials "really offer some hope to veterans." He explained his understanding that "it gives you a sense of self-love when you're talking about difficult and ingrained experiences that have become part of a chronic condition."
Despite years of conventional therapies and his own determined efforts, Wade has never successfully eliminated "hyper-vigilance, hyper-arousal and flashbacks and nightmares."
A Call for Greater Support
Wade made a poignant comparison between military spending and mental health investment, noting that "when you are in somewhere like Afghanistan, you realise how far missiles are being used at £80,000 per warhead."
"And you think, just if the government would give each veteran that's really struggling £80,000 worth of therapy," he added, highlighting what he sees as a misalignment of priorities in government spending.
The growing body of evidence supporting MDMA-assisted therapy, combined with powerful personal testimonies from veterans like Wade, creates a compelling case for government action. As research continues to demonstrate promising results, pressure mounts for regulatory changes that could make this potentially life-changing treatment more accessible to those who need it most.
