New Zealand's pharmaceutical regulatory body, Medsafe, has approved the use of pharmaceutical-grade MDMA for individuals with severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This decision, made on Friday, allows two psychiatrists to prescribe the substance.
This makes New Zealand the second country globally to approve MDMA for PTSD treatment, following Australia's approval of psychedelics for PTSD and treatment-resistant depression in 2023.
The deputy prime minister, David Seymour, stated that MDMA can be effective in treating PTSD through psychedelic-assisted therapy. He added that New Zealand is committed to increasing access to "innovative treatments."
The Ministry of Health in Wellington clarified that MDMA-assisted treatment will be combined with psychotherapy and administered in a controlled clinical setting by an authorised psychiatrist. Patients will not be given drugs to take home, and treatment is for those aged 18 or older.