{"id":18291,"date":"2021-05-07T12:56:55","date_gmt":"2021-05-07T12:56:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wholecelium.com\/?p=18291"},"modified":"2023-11-08T16:42:21","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T15:42:21","slug":"texas-stelt-voor-psilocybine-te-bestuderen-voor-ptss-veteranen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wholecelium.com\/nl\/blog\/texas-proposes-to-study-psilocybin-for-veteran-ptsd\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas stelt voor Psilocybine te onderzoeken voor Veteraan PTSD"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/p>\n

Research has shown that psychedelics could treat mental conditions very effectively. Such as <\/strong>for traumatic brain injury<\/b><\/a>, for instance or treatment resistant depression<\/b><\/a>. <\/strong> Up until now, there\u2019s been no high-level chatter on granting access to shrooms for veterans. After all, the ‘War on Drugs’ still persists to this day… Especially <\/em>in a conservative state like Texas!<\/p>\n

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So what changed their minds?<\/p>\n

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Not all wounds are visible <\/em><\/h2>\n

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Photo by Specna Arms on Unsplash<\/mark><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt [PTSD] affects a pretty sizable number of us, but the good news is it\u2019s very treatable.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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Those were the words of Retired Colonel Jeffery Yarvis<\/strong>, associate professor at Texas A&M and a veteran himself. He suffers from PTSD, and hopes that this bill could help the thousands <\/em>like him \u2014 especially those who so far have suffered in silence.<\/p>\n

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\u201cTo raise attention to the fact that veterans do struggle with this. There are a number of evidence-based treatments that work, and I applaud Texas for thinking outside the box.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder<\/strong>, is often called an \u201cinvisible\u201d <\/em>disease, causing some to downplay <\/em>its pain. Unfortunately, a surprising number of civilians don\u2019t get why vets still jump at the sound of firecrackers, or struggle to sleep at night\u2026 Even decades after their last tour! <\/p>\n

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Shrooms Against PTSD<\/em><\/h2>\n

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There are<\/em> programs in Texas to help combat PTSD in veterans, such as free counseling and temporary housing. But a lot of the time, these measures come short. Big Pharma meds often do not work<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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Fortunately, new research has shown that magic mushrooms and truffles can help those who suffer from PTSD<\/a><\/strong>. Science may have stumbled upon the psychedelic prairie, but it\u2019s up to Texas cowboys to legalise it. <\/p>\n

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If <\/em>the bill passes, Texas Health and Human Services <\/strong>will hold their own trial for psilocybin. Other partners will include: a health and sciences university, and a hospital for Veteran Affairs (both to be chosen at a later date).<\/em><\/p>\n

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A Newfound Ally<\/em><\/h2>\n

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Luckily for State Rep. Dominguez who wrote the bill, he\u2019s got a powerful new ally by his side. No less than former Texas Governor Rick Perry<\/strong> himself, who\u2019s become pretty vocal <\/em>about shrooms for PTSD:<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m a great example of a fairly conservative elected official who is against drugs in any form. <\/em><\/p>\n

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\u201cBack in 2013, I had a mother come in and visit with me about the medical use of marijuana. I was against that. But she came in, and she showed me where her young son could\u2026 get over these <\/em>epileptic seizures<\/em><\/strong> by the use of this compound that was overseen medically, appropriately dosed.<\/em><\/p>\n

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\u201cAnd that\u2019s what we\u2019re talking about here with this compound of <\/em>psilocybin <\/em><\/strong>in a clinical trial environment.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry once described himself as “historically been a very anti-drug person”. Now he wants veterans to have access to magic mushrooms, to help treat PTSD. (Photo: Creative Commons)<\/mark><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n

Heroes in Crisis<\/em><\/h2>\n

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In a press conference, State Rep. Dominguez defended the use of psilocybin for PTSD \u2014 especially <\/em>in the midst of a worsening mental health crisis<\/strong> in America:<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe watch and learned as states across the country – and nations around the world – are studying these compounds and finding medical applications for them. It\u2019s time for Texas to join the fight.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Photo by Aleksey Kashmar on Unsplash<\/mark><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the mental health epidemic growing in every segment of American society, it\u2019s clear that current solutions are not succeeding. New approaches are desperately needed for all people suffering from stress\u2026 but<\/em> especially for veterans<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe must pursue every possible treatment for these issues.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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Homecoming<\/em><\/h2>\n

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What makes this bill an URGENT issue is the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan \u2014 coming up soon on September 11, 2021. Yes, it will mark 20 years since the 9\/11 attacks. But it will also bring home 2,500 soldiers<\/strong> fresh from the war zone.<\/p>\n

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An estimated 22 veterans commit suicide<\/a><\/strong> each day in America, often due to PTSD and traumatic brain injury. That\u2019s 1 veteran every 65 minutes. According to Department of Veterans Affairs<\/em><\/strong>, soldiers are more likely to get PTSD if they had:<\/p>\n

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