In his 20s, Rick Doblin had a dream that inspired him to believe in the healing powers of psychedelic drugs. This belief led him to found the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) in 1986, with the goal of convincing the medical establishment that MDMA (ecstasy) could be used in mental health care to help people process trauma. After 38 years of research and advocacy, MAPS has partnered with Lykos Therapeutics to seek FDA approval for MDMA as a treatment for PTSD. The FDA is expected to make a decision on this as soon as August, potentially making MDMA the first psychedelic approved for medical use.
Despite his optimism about the FDA approval, Doblin remains cautious and does not want to celebrate too soon. He feels fortunate to see the change he has been working towards happening within his own lifetime and hopes that this progress will continue. Although he acknowledges that the FDA approval is a significant milestone, Doblin’s ultimate goal is to promote the acceptance of psychedelics as effective mental health treatments worldwide.
Doblin remains committed to his cause and is eager to continue pushing for the recognition of psychedelic therapies in mental health care. He sees the potential for these treatments to make a difference in people’s lives and is determined to see this vision realized. While he may feel content knowing that progress is being made, Doblin shows no signs of slowing down in his efforts to advocate for the use of psychedelics in the field of mental health.