Veterans are turning to psychedelics for PTSD—does it really work?
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Mental health treatments have come a long way, with new approaches offering hope for those struggling with conditions like PTSD and depression.
But some of these treatments remain controversial, especially when they involve substances that have long been considered off-limits.
For some, when traditional methods fail, they turn to unconventional—and sometimes illegal—alternatives with unexpectedly promising results.
Mental health struggles often leave people searching for effective treatments, but not all options are easily accessible—or legal.
Daniel Vincent, a former soldier, left the military in 2019 after being medically discharged with PTSD and major depressive disorder.
He had served in the army since 2000, with deployments to East Timor, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
‘I got to see what warfare was all about…watching people die without any ability to help them,’ he said.
Doctors prescribed anti-depressants, but he disliked their effects and eventually stopped taking them.
A casual joke among friends led him to an unconventional approach—microdosing psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms.
During the COVID pandemic, he met up with friends who seemed unusually upbeat, prompting him to joke: ‘Oh hey, have they upped your meds?’
Instead, they revealed they were using psilocybin.
Intrigued, Mr Vincent decided to try it himself in 2023, continuing for a year before stopping when he felt it had served its purpose.
‘[My] PTSD is in remission, anxiety is in remission, depression is in remission—I feel like I am a better functioning person in society,’ he said.
While his use was not medically supervised, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved psychedelic-assisted therapy using psilocybin and MDMA in 2023.
Only authorised psychiatrists could prescribe these treatments, which were reserved for PTSD and treatment-resistant depression.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) also approved these substances for use in psychedelic therapy, though the practice remained tightly controlled.
Despite this, microdosing psychedelics remained illegal and outside TGA guidelines.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists warned in 2023 that illicit use carried ‘a significant risk to the community.’
Concerns included the potential for dangerous substances in black-market drugs and the lack of medical supervision.
‘Improperly screened patients may suffer adverse physical and/or mental health effects with limited or no support from medical practitioners,’ the organisation stated.
Dr Ted Cassidy, a psychiatrist specialising in psychedelic-assisted therapy, emphasised that these treatments involved more than just the drugs.
‘It is not the drug alone that does it, it’s the combination of the psychotherapy program augmented by the psychedelic dosing days,’ he said.
These therapies combined standard psychotherapy with controlled dosing sessions, allowing patients to process trauma in a guided environment.
Dr Cassidy had seen remarkable transformations in some patients, though he acknowledged the approach was not effective for everyone.
‘Early patients are 12 months out [from their treatment] and now they’re symptom-free, which is a really dramatic, unexpected result with things like PTSD,’ he said.
‘This is one of the most remarkable treatments that I’ve dealt with—there are very few treatments where the patients respond so dramatically.’
Jason Frost, a veteran who served in the army for 16 years, had long advocated for more mental health support for soldiers.
‘We’re absolutely desperate for the support, the need is incredible,’ he said.
‘A lot of us—even myself—have been isolated for years in our battles.’
He believed modern military service had brought unique psychological challenges, especially after Australia’s expanded involvement in global conflicts.
‘Through that period, we’ve advanced exponentially in terms of our military performance and human performance, so we’ve got a range of new issues that we’re facing,’ he said.
Despite the promise of psychedelic therapy, experts urged caution.
Dr Gene Hodgins, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at Charles Sturt University, said more traditional methods should be prioritised.
‘The research around psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is promising, but it’s nowhere near as robust as these other treatments,’ he said.
Another major hurdle was cost, with treatment requiring highly trained professionals.
Dr Cassidy estimated a three-month round of therapy could cost between $13,000 and $40,000.
‘If you’re only dealing with [that] kind of 1-in-100 mental health professional, it’s always going to be expensive,’ he said.
‘Even if you throw tonnes of money at it, there’s still not that many therapists like that out there.’
A DVA spokesperson stated the department was still finalising how it would assess requests for psychedelic-assisted therapy.
In a previous story, we explored the dangers of illicit substances making their way into party scenes, with devastating consequences.
While some advocate for the controlled use of psychedelics in mental health treatment, others warn that unregulated drugs pose serious risks.
Read more about a deadly drug that has been linked to celebrity tragedies and legal battles.
With psychedelic-assisted therapy gaining traction, do you think it could become a mainstream treatment for PTSD and depression?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
But some of these treatments remain controversial, especially when they involve substances that have long been considered off-limits.
For some, when traditional methods fail, they turn to unconventional—and sometimes illegal—alternatives with unexpectedly promising results.
Mental health struggles often leave people searching for effective treatments, but not all options are easily accessible—or legal.
Daniel Vincent, a former soldier, left the military in 2019 after being medically discharged with PTSD and major depressive disorder.
He had served in the army since 2000, with deployments to East Timor, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
Veteran battles PTSD after military service. Image source: ABC News/Stephen Cavenagh
‘I got to see what warfare was all about…watching people die without any ability to help them,’ he said.
Doctors prescribed anti-depressants, but he disliked their effects and eventually stopped taking them.
A casual joke among friends led him to an unconventional approach—microdosing psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms.
During the COVID pandemic, he met up with friends who seemed unusually upbeat, prompting him to joke: ‘Oh hey, have they upped your meds?’
Instead, they revealed they were using psilocybin.
Intrigued, Mr Vincent decided to try it himself in 2023, continuing for a year before stopping when he felt it had served its purpose.
‘[My] PTSD is in remission, anxiety is in remission, depression is in remission—I feel like I am a better functioning person in society,’ he said.
While his use was not medically supervised, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved psychedelic-assisted therapy using psilocybin and MDMA in 2023.
Only authorised psychiatrists could prescribe these treatments, which were reserved for PTSD and treatment-resistant depression.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) also approved these substances for use in psychedelic therapy, though the practice remained tightly controlled.
Despite this, microdosing psychedelics remained illegal and outside TGA guidelines.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists warned in 2023 that illicit use carried ‘a significant risk to the community.’
Concerns included the potential for dangerous substances in black-market drugs and the lack of medical supervision.
‘Improperly screened patients may suffer adverse physical and/or mental health effects with limited or no support from medical practitioners,’ the organisation stated.
Dr Ted Cassidy, a psychiatrist specialising in psychedelic-assisted therapy, emphasised that these treatments involved more than just the drugs.
‘It is not the drug alone that does it, it’s the combination of the psychotherapy program augmented by the psychedelic dosing days,’ he said.
These therapies combined standard psychotherapy with controlled dosing sessions, allowing patients to process trauma in a guided environment.
Dr Cassidy had seen remarkable transformations in some patients, though he acknowledged the approach was not effective for everyone.
‘Early patients are 12 months out [from their treatment] and now they’re symptom-free, which is a really dramatic, unexpected result with things like PTSD,’ he said.
‘This is one of the most remarkable treatments that I’ve dealt with—there are very few treatments where the patients respond so dramatically.’
Jason Frost, a veteran who served in the army for 16 years, had long advocated for more mental health support for soldiers.
‘We’re absolutely desperate for the support, the need is incredible,’ he said.
‘A lot of us—even myself—have been isolated for years in our battles.’
He believed modern military service had brought unique psychological challenges, especially after Australia’s expanded involvement in global conflicts.
‘Through that period, we’ve advanced exponentially in terms of our military performance and human performance, so we’ve got a range of new issues that we’re facing,’ he said.
Despite the promise of psychedelic therapy, experts urged caution.
Dr Gene Hodgins, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at Charles Sturt University, said more traditional methods should be prioritised.
‘The research around psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is promising, but it’s nowhere near as robust as these other treatments,’ he said.
Another major hurdle was cost, with treatment requiring highly trained professionals.
Dr Cassidy estimated a three-month round of therapy could cost between $13,000 and $40,000.
‘If you’re only dealing with [that] kind of 1-in-100 mental health professional, it’s always going to be expensive,’ he said.
‘Even if you throw tonnes of money at it, there’s still not that many therapists like that out there.’
A DVA spokesperson stated the department was still finalising how it would assess requests for psychedelic-assisted therapy.
In a previous story, we explored the dangers of illicit substances making their way into party scenes, with devastating consequences.
While some advocate for the controlled use of psychedelics in mental health treatment, others warn that unregulated drugs pose serious risks.
Read more about a deadly drug that has been linked to celebrity tragedies and legal battles.
With psychedelic-assisted therapy gaining traction, do you think it could become a mainstream treatment for PTSD and depression?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
