FDA advisers consider MDMA therapy to treat PTSD [Video]

A federal advisory committee meets on Tuesday to weigh the risks and benefits of using MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.Video above: Veterans say psychedelics are helping them treat their PTSDMDMA is classified as a schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, and approving it would be a marked shift. It’s the first time the FDA’s advisers have considered a psychedelic drug for medical use. The novel treatment has the potential to transform a field with significant need, but critical questions loom.About 5% of adults in the United States – about 13 million people – experience PTSD in any given year, according estimates from the National Center for PTSD. But current treatment options – including antidepressants and some specialized forms of cognitive behavioral therapy – are limited in their scope and effectiveness, with few alternatives available to help those don’t respond well to …