The FDA is moving faster on psychedelics — now Washington must do more

Every 11 minutes, an American dies by suicide. Millions more struggle to manage their mental health, cycling through medications, therapy appointments, and hospital visits without ever finding relief. 

In late April, the FDA took a decisive step toward addressing this prolonged health emergency. In response to President Donald Trump’s recent executive order, the agency announced plans to expedite the review of certain psychedelic medicines for serious mental health conditions. 

FDA FAST-TRACKS PSYCHEDELIC DRUG RESEARCH FOLLOWING TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER

The U.S.’s mental health crisis currently condemns millions to daily suffering, with little hope of relief. Given just how few effective treatments exist, the government should not let psychedelic medicines languish in regulatory limbo. Science-backed psychedelic treatments should be evaluated with the same urgency as other promising medicines.

Nearly a quarter of U.S. adults suffer from a mental illness. Depression alone now affects 1 in 5 adults — a historic high, according to