New Zealand approves psychiatrist-prescribed MDMA-assisted therapy for adults with severe PTSD in controlled clinical settings

New Zealand’s medicines regulator, Medsafe, has approved two psychiatrists to prescribe pharmaceutical-grade MDMA to adults with severe post-traumatic stress disorder, making the country the second worldwide to authorize MDMA for PTSD after Australia’s 2023 decision. The treatment must be delivered with psychotherapy in a controlled clinical setting under an authorized psychiatrist, and patients cannot take the drug home. Supporters, including deputy prime minister David Seymour, describe MDMA-assisted therapy as a potentially effective option for a condition that can be difficult to treat. The decision comes as the United States continues clinical trials after rejecting medicinal legalization in 2024 over concerns about evidence of safety and effectiveness. Existing US drug options have uneven response rates and may take months to work.