Emyria and charity Reach Wellness have entered into a binding research agreement to evaluate the effectiveness of the firm’s MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) program for first responders with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
A support program will be managed by Reach Wellness and the charity has initiated a fundraising campaign to cover all treatment and study-related costs for the project up to A$1.5 million.
The first participant of an initial cohort of 50 qualified first responders has been enrolled.
The study aims to support broader health service and payer engagement by helping demonstrate the safety, effectiveness and scalability of Emyria’s MDMA-AT model.
Since July 1, 2023, MDMA can be legally prescribed for PTSD by specialist psychiatrists who have obtained Authorised Prescriber status from the Therapeutic Goods Administration and can demonstrate a capability to provide supportive therapy.
Reach Wellness founder Rick Green said: “First responders keep our communities safe and functioning both locally and overseas. However, these roles can be highly stressful both physically and mentally as is evident by the high rates of PTSD and other mental health challenges.
“Reach’s mission is to fund research and care programs for those who help others first with the generous support of our donors.
“Emyria is one of the most well-prepared research organisations in Australia capable of evaluating MDMA-assisted therapy in real-world settings and we are excited to partner with them on this research program managed within a strictly controlled regulatory environment.”
