PATH Caucus Briefing: Clinical Research on Psychedelic Therapies
On June 24, 2025, SSDP Executive Director Kat Murti, Program Assistant Chandler Huffman, and Archivist Christopher Gagnon attended a Congressional briefing on the latest clinical research into psychedelic-assisted therapies for mental health and addiction, hosted by the Congressional Psychedelics Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus.
Featured speakers Dr. Frederick Barrett and Dr. Brandon Weiss from Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research presented compelling evidence from ongoing studies on the use of psilocybin and MDMA to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD), depression, and PTSD.
The Johns Hopkins researchers emphasized that psychedelic therapy is carefully structured and deeply personalized. Participants undergo rigorous screening for psychological conditions like psychosis, cardiovascular risks, and contraindicated medications. Treatment involves 6–8 hours of preparatory sessions with trained therapists, followed by 2–3 psychedelic-assisted sessions lasting 6–8 hours each, with two therapists present throughout. Each participant had previously tried at least one form of traditional therapy. Notably, psilocybin is rapid-acting and can be safely used with SSRIs, while MDMA shows strong results in as few as three sessions. Importantly, outcomes are measured based on the individual’s goals, not limited to abstinence, offering a more compassionate and effective framework for success.
The briefing underscored the need for expanded funding to support randomized controlled trials and implementation studies. Encouragingly, a Johns Hopkins study found that 85% of people with AUD and 90% with depression saw improvements after psychedelic therapy. The PATH Caucus continues to play a critical role in advancing evidence-based mental health policy, and congressional offices are encouraged to join the caucus to help guide this emerging area of research and care.
