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Veterans with PTSD Travel to Other Countries to Access Psychedelics for Treatment

From CBS News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • U.S. veterans suffering from PTSD, depression, and addiction are traveling to countries like Mexico for psychedelic retreats where these substances are legal.
  • This comes as the Veterans Administration announced it would begin funding its own clinical trials for psilocybin and MDMA, though widespread prescription is years away.
  • Veterans like TJ Duff and Randy Weaver share their experiences seeking relief from invisible wounds, hoping these alternative therapies can ease their pain after conventional treatments proved insufficient.

Thousands of U.S. veterans grappling with the debilitating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and addiction are seeking unconventional treatment abroad. Desperate for relief, many are traveling to countries where psychedelic drugs like psilocybin and MDMA are legal, often participating in indigenous ceremonies.

Being optimistic is hard for me. Because I've been through a lot of therapy, a lot of different treatments. And not a lotta success.

— TJ DuffTJ Duff, a veteran who survived the USS Cole bombing, expresses his skepticism about finding effective treatment for his trauma.

This trend emerges as the Veterans Administration (VA) has, for the first time, announced it will fund its own clinical trials for these psychedelic substances. While this marks a significant step, it will likely be years before the VA can offer these treatments to its patients, even if the trials prove successful.

Don't have it where I'm-- I'm jumping in ditches when I hear loud noises. My PTSD's-- is kind of a self-destructive form.

— Randy WeaverRandy Weaver, a police officer and veteran, describes the severe impact of his PTSD on his daily life.

In March 2024, a group of nine veterans journeyed to the west coast of Mexico for a week-long psychedelic retreat near Puerto Vallarta. Among them was TJ Duff, a former Navy sailor who narrowly escaped death during the USS Cole bombing in Yemen. Duff expressed the difficulty of optimism, having undergone numerous therapies with limited success.

It's the constant, you know, what if I had done this? What if we did that, you know?

— Randy WeaverRandy Weaver reflects on the intrusive thoughts and regrets associated with his PTSD.

Randy Weaver, a New York police officer and former Army staff sergeant, also participated. Diagnosed with PTSD after tours in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, Weaver described his self-destructive symptoms and the constant "what ifs" that plague him. He hopes psilocybin therapy might offer a new perspective on traumatic incidents, such as the 2004 firefight in Afghanistan where his friend, Staff Sergeant Anthony Lagman, was killed. Weaver has worn a bracelet with Lagman's name for 20 years, a constant reminder of the trauma he carries.

Yeah. If I could revisit them-- and see them maybe from a different perspective like, not where I failed somebody.

— Randy WeaverRandy Weaver expresses his hope that psychedelic therapy could help him reframe traumatic memories.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CBS News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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