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MDMA-assisted psychotherapy could come into play in 2021

It would be used to treat post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression

Talks about MDMA being used for psychotherapy have been going for a while and it's believed treatment using the drug could be officially approved in six years.

If accepted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), scientists and researchers believe MDMA, combined with therapies, could be used to effectively treat post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression, and one advocate believes 2021 could be the year it comes into action.

Rick Doblin, executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, said: "We're on track for MDMA to be approved by the FDA by 2021. We are in a pretty good place for reaching this goal."

He says phase two trials (treating a higher number of people than phase one) are being finished at the moment, with phase three expected to be in place by 2017 after agreements are made with the FDA.

There are also plans to use MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for "end-of-life anxiety and social anxiety in adults with autism" and Doblin also hopes the psychoactive ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms, psilocybin, will be passed for medical use.

[ Via: Huffington Post]