The Psychedelic Medicine Association (PMA) Aims to Bridge the Gap Between the Medical Establishment, Patients, and Industry Leaders
As psychedelic medicines progress through clinical trial pathways and legislation is amended, patients are starting to ask doctors, psychologists, and psychiatrists about access to ground breaking new treatments.
“We want physicians and other healthcare providers to feel comfortable discussing psychedelic medicines with their patients, as many of these therapies are significantly more effective than the current options,” said PMA president Dr. Lynn Marie Morski.
This dialogue presents a number of highly complex scenarios that medical professionals must attempt to navigate, from providing accurate and easily understood information to working through insurance and public health implications.
With support from major groups in the growing psychedelic medicine sector, the Psychedelic Medicine Association will officially launch on September 29, aiming to create a framework for the conversation between key stakeholders. Its goal is better outcomes for patients using the psychedelic medicines which have proved to be game changers in mental health, addiction and pain management treatments.
The industry has recently taken giant leaps forward towards mainstream uptake. Not only are Ketamine treatments now widely available, in particular Spravato from Johnson and Johnson, but also organizations like MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) are driving accelerated clinical trials through “Breakthrough Therapy Status” granted by the FDA to MDMA and psilocybin. Indeed, in an eagerly awaited IPO on the Nasdaq, Compass Pathways will be raising funds as its own accelerated psilocybin trial nears completion.
“The research and emerging evidence around psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapies is showing these molecules and modalities hold incredible promise. The impact they could have on how we treat mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and PTSD, as well the general well-being of people across the world, is significant,” said Ronan Levy, Executive Chairman of industry behemoth Field Trip Psychedelics Inc. “In order for that impact to be realized, though, we need to earn the trust, support and buy-in from the global medical community through frank, open and objective dialogue. The PMA is extremely well-positioned to start that conversation in a meaningful and constructive way, and so we were very pleased to be invited to join the PMA as a founding member.”
The PMA is a public benefit corporation, run by healthcare providers for healthcare providers, and is currently building its membership and partner networks. One of its primary tasks is education.
“For us to fully inform those on the frontlines of patient care, we have to overcome the stigma surrounding psychedelics, clear up misconceptions about psychedelic medicines, and give practitioners access to the wealth of research being done in the field,” Dr. Lynn Marie Morski observed.
Joining the Psychedelic Medicine Association at launch are:
Ayahuasca Foundation
Canadian Psychedelic Association
CB Therapeutics
Field Trip Psychedelics Inc.
Fluence
Heroic Hearts Project
Hive
Holos Global
Illuminate Medicine Institute
MagicMed Industries Inc.
Maya
McAllister Garfield
Microdose
Numinus
PsiloHealth
PsyTech
The Conscious Fund
Unlimited Sciences
VETS, Inc.
Zuber Lawler
Membership will officially open on Tuesday, September 29 and the PMA is hosting a free virtual event that day to celebrate the launch, featuring prominent speakers from across the psychedelic science world. Registration for this event and further information on PMA can be found at psychedelicmedicineassociation.org.
You can also find the Psychedelic Medicine Association on Twitter at @Psychedelic_Med, LinkedIn and on Facebook.