Ecstasy tested for treatment of post-traumatic stress in veterans

As service men and women return from military service in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world, there is an increasing awareness of the challenges many will face as they work to readjust to their civilian lives. These hurdles often include difficulty finding a job, marital or other family problems and general difficulties reassimilating into a world they may no longer fit into.

In addition, many service members that were deployed to the most recent military conflicts are struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and similar mental ailments caused by the things they saw and did while fighting overseas. Researchers have been testing new methods of treatment of this often-debilitating disease in an effort to help the many service members who are suffering from the ailment.

Recently, researchers have identified MDMA, more commonly known as the party drug ecstasy, as one possible method of treatment. The drug has thus far proven successful in treating PTSD sufferers by giving them a feeling of calm and euphoria. This gives them the ability to open up about their PTSD and the events that caused it during counseling sessions, and allows for more effective therapy.

Of course, ecstasy carries the potential for addiction and similar issues, so much additional research needs to be done before it becomes a regular part of PTSD treatment. But any developments into the treatment of this debilitating disease are promising, and we hope that they continue to be made.

If you suffer from PTSD caused by your military service or another traumatic event, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. In order to qualify for SSD, you must be unable to work for at least 12 consecutive months. In addition, you must go through the SSD application process. Utilizing the services of an experienced Social Security Disability officer can make this often-complicated process much easier and less stressful.

Source: NBC, "Party Drug Ecstasy May Help Tough Cases of PTSD, Researchers Say," Tony Shin and R. Stickney, Nov. 28, 2012