May 27, 2026
WASHINGTON (May 27, 2026) – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) supports and welcomes yesterday’s announcement by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which unveiled the first clinical trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for veterans experiencing severe mental health conditions. Taking place at the VA Providence Healthcare System, the trial aims to enroll 80 veterans who have co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) diagnoses.
As a top veteran health care priority for the VFW, VA research into alternative mental health treatments aligns with growing veteran community interest in therapy options beyond commonly prescribed medications, some of which come with risks that may not be disclosed. Together with Grunt Style Foundation, the VFW’s advocacy on Capitol Hill is resulting in tangible progress toward responsibly researched mental health tools with the potential to reduce suffering and save veteran lives.
“When I spoke to Congress in March, the issue of veteran suicide struck at the emotional core of everyone in the room as countless VFW and Auxiliary members stood in remembrance of those they have lost,” said VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore. “We need every tool at our disposal to prevent the next veteran from taking their life, which is why careful and intentional research into alternative treatments is so important. We cannot know what will work for one veteran over another, and I am grateful for the administration’s urgency to remove red tape and find safe solutions for veterans battling conditions like PTSD and AUD.”
The VA’s MDMA clinical trial comes after President Donald Trump’s April 18 executive order titled “Accelerating Medical Treatments for Serious Mental Illness,” which aimed to remove federal barriers to clinical research and drug approvals for psychedelic drugs.
Read the announcement or view the trial website.