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Accelerating Medical Treatments for Serious Mental Illness

President Donald J. Trump’s order directs federal agencies to speed up research, review, and possible approval of psychedelic-based treatments for serious mental illnesses, especially for patients who do not improve with standard care. It tells the FDA to prioritize certain psychedelic drugs that have already received Breakthrough Therapy status, and it orders the FDA and DEA to create a pathway for eligible patients to access these drugs under the federal Right to Try law. The order also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to devote at least $50 million in existing funds to work with states developing these treatments, and it instructs HHS, FDA, and the Department of Veterans Affairs to expand clinical trials and share data to support evaluation of these drugs. Trump says the action was issued to address high rates of suicide, serious mental illness, and veteran suffering by accelerating potential new treatment options beyond traditional medications.