Veteran Resources · Research & Recovery

The evidence, the programs, and the people who can help.

What the research actually says about each substance, where veterans are getting care, and who to call when you need support — gathered in one place and kept current.

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By substance

The eight compounds most relevant to veteran mental health. Tap one to open its research — every veteran-specific study we could find, with the landmark trials first.

MDMA Psilocybin Ketamine Ibogaine 5-MeO-DMT Ayahuasca / DMT LSD Cannabis

The Research

Veteran psychedelic research library

Every study we could find conducted specifically in veterans, active-duty service members, or Special Operations Forces — grouped by substance. Where a substance has no veteran research, we say so. We don't dress up trials that came back negative or thin.

How to read it: each accordion lists the veteran-specific studies, landmark first. Veteran / SOF studied in veterans or service members · Early / limited small, uncontrolled, or mixed results. Recruiting trials live in the studies directory. Educational only — not medical advice, and never help obtaining any substance.

MDMA3 veteran studies · several recruiting+

The deepest evidence base for trauma. The foundational veteran/first-responder trial is positive and durable, and a large wave of veteran-specific trials is now recruiting.

Veteran / first responder

Active-dose MDMA-assisted therapy produced large PTSD reductions in veterans, firefighters, and police, held at 12 months (Phase 2, n = 26).

Mithoefer, M. C., Mithoefer, A. T., Feduccia, A. A., Jerome, L., Wagner, M., Wymer, J., Holland, J., Hamilton, S., Yazar-Klosinski, B., Emerson, A., & Doblin, R. (2018). MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD in military veterans, firefighters, and police officers: A randomised, double-blind, dose-response, phase 2 trial. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5(6), 486–497. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30135-4

Veteran — qualitative

In a 1-year follow-up of that cohort, all participants reported lasting personal benefits and improved quality of life beyond symptom scores (n = 19).

Barone, W., Beck, J., Mitsunaga-Whitten, M., & Perl, P. (2019). Perceived benefits of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy beyond symptom reduction: Qualitative follow-up study of a clinical trial for individuals with treatment-resistant PTSD. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 51(2), 199–208. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2019.1580805

Veteran — attitudes

VA-enrolled veterans were hopeful about MDMA-assisted therapy but held real concerns and misconceptions — pointing to a need for clearer education (n = 30).

Earleywine, M., Holley, C., MacConnel, H., & Farmer, S. (2025). Questions and concerns about MDMA-assisted therapy in veterans with PTSD symptoms. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2025.2570938

Multiple veteran/active-duty MDMA trials are recruiting now — MDMA-assisted Cognitive Processing Therapy, dose-optimization studies, and PTSD + alcohol-use-disorder trials among them. See them in the studies directory →

Psilocybin5 veteran studies · several recruiting+

The first veteran psilocybin trials have now reported — strong early signals for treatment-resistant depression, with effects that tend to fade across a year. Larger VA trials are underway.

Veteran

In the first psilocybin trial run specifically in veterans, a single 25-mg dose produced 60% response and 53% remission in severe treatment-resistant depression at 3 weeks; comorbid PTSD didn't blunt the effect (open-label, n = 15).

Ellis, S., Bostian, C., Feng, W., Fischer, E., Schwartz, G., Eisen, K., Lean, M., Conlan, E., Ostacher, M., Aaronson, S., & Suppes, T. (2024). Single-dose psilocybin for U.S. military veterans with severe treatment-resistant depression — A first-in-kind open-label pilot study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 369, 381–389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.09.133

Veteran — long-term

At 12 months, benefits were significant but waned after ~6–9 months (40% sustained response) — a candid look at durability (n = 10 completers).

Ellis, S., Bostian, C., Donnelly, A., Feng, W., Eisen, K., Lean, M., Conlan, E., Ostacher, M., Aaronson, S., & Suppes, T. (2025). Long-term outcomes of single-dose psilocybin for U.S. military veterans with severe treatment-resistant depression — 12-month data. Journal of Affective Disorders, 389, 119655. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.119655

Veteran — secondary analysis

Beyond depression, the same cohort showed improvements in anxiety, quality of life, functioning, and PTSD symptoms.

Kelly, C. M., Fradet, M., Bostian, C. M., Donnelly, A., Ellis, S., Ostacher, M., Aaronson, S., & Suppes, T. (2026). Changes in anxiety, quality of life, and functioning following psilocybin-assisted therapy in veterans with treatment-resistant depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 412, 122063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2026.122063

Veteran — TBI retreat

At a psilocybin retreat, veterans with a history of traumatic brain injury showed reduced PTSD (~50%) and depression (~65%) with normalized resting EEG activity (observational, n = 21).

Blest-Hopley, G., Pasculli, G., Ruffell, S. G. D., Tsang, W., Emmanuel, O., Pate, K. M., Kettner, H., Roseman, L., Erritzoe, D., & Carhart-Harris, R. (2025). Improved mental health outcomes and normalised spontaneous EEG activity in veterans reporting a history of traumatic brain injuries following participation in a psilocybin retreat. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16, 1594307. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1594307

Veteran — protocol

A published protocol for an open-label psilocybin-for-PTSD pilot in veterans (two sessions, 15 then 25 mg). Results not yet reported.

Davis, A. K., Levin, A. W., Nagib, P. B., Armstrong, S. B., & Lancelotta, R. L. (2023). Study protocol of an open-label proof-of-concept trial examining the safety and clinical efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy for veterans with PTSD. BMJ Open, 13(5), e068884. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068884

More veteran psilocybin trials are recruiting, including a multi-site VA Phase 3 for treatment-resistant depression. See the studies directory →

Ketamine & esketamine6 veteran studies+

FDA-approved and available across the VA for depression. For PTSD the veteran evidence is genuinely mixed — the largest veteran RCT was negative, while smaller real-world series are more encouraging.

Veteran / active-duty

In the largest ketamine-for-PTSD trial in military populations, repeated IV ketamine did not beat placebo on PTSD (it did rapidly improve depression) (RCT, n = 158).

Abdallah, C. G., Roache, J. D., Gueorguieva, R., Averill, L. A., Young-McCaughan, S., Shiroma, P. R., … Krystal, J. H. (2022). Dose-related effects of ketamine for antidepressant-resistant symptoms of PTSD in veterans and active duty military: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled multi-center trial. Neuropsychopharmacology, 47(8), 1574–1581. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-022-01266-9

Veteran — real-world

In VA clinic practice, intranasal esketamine reduced both depression and PTSD symptoms, with the PTSD effect appearing partly distinct from the antidepressant effect (retrospective, n = 35).

Artin, H., Bentley, S., Mehaffey, E., Liu, F. X., Sojourner, K., Bismark, A. W., Printz, D., Lee, E. E., Martis, B., De Peralta, S., Baker, D. G., Mishra, J., & Ramanathan, D. (2022). Effects of intranasal (S)-ketamine on veterans with co-morbid treatment-resistant depression and PTSD: A retrospective case series. EClinicalMedicine, 48, 101439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101439

Veteran — combined with therapy

A VA pilot found ketamine paired with prolonged exposure therapy feasible, with preliminary symptom benefit.

Shiroma, P. R., Thuras, P., Wels, J., Erbes, C., Kehle-Forbes, S., & Polusny, M. (2020). A proof-of-concept study of subanesthetic intravenous ketamine combined with prolonged exposure therapy among veterans with PTSD. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 81(6), 20l13406. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.20l13406

Combat veterans

Six high-dose infusions (inducing a transpersonal dissociative state) significantly reduced depression and PTSD in combat veterans (observational, n = 30).

Ross, C., Jain, R., Bonnett, C. J., & Wolfson, P. (2019). High-dose ketamine infusion for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in combat veterans. Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, 31(4), 271–279. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31675388

Veteran — comparison

Veterans switched from intranasal esketamine to IV racemic ketamine saw larger reductions in depression and PTSD on the IV form (retrospective, n = 15).

Bentley, S., Artin, H., Mehaffey, E., Liu, F., Sojourner, K., Bismark, A., Printz, D., Lee, E. E., Martis, B., De Peralta, S., Baker, D. G., Mishra, J., & Ramanathan, D. (2022). Response to intravenous racemic ketamine after switch from intranasal (S)-ketamine on symptoms of TRD and PTSD in veterans: A retrospective case series. Pharmacotherapy, 42(3), 272–279. https://doi.org/10.1002/phar.2664

Veteran — review

A meta-analysis restricted to military populations concluded ketamine reduces pain, depression, and PTSD symptoms — though it pools heterogeneous studies, so read it as a synthesis (11 studies).

Liu, J. J. W., Ein, N., Gervasio, J., Baker, C., Plouffe, R., Wanklyn, S., Burhan, A. M., Lau, B., Abreu, E., Wasiuta, T., Nazarov, A., & Richardson, J. D. (2024). Ketamine in the effective management of chronic pain, depression, and PTSD for veterans: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, 1338581. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1338581

Veteran ketamine trials are registered, including ketamine-enhanced prolonged exposure and ketamine for PTSD with TBI. See the studies directory →

IbogaineSOF cohort + Mexico program+

The most striking veteran results to date — but from open-label studies without control groups, and with real cardiac risk the protocols actively manage.

Veteran / SOF

A single magnesium-ibogaine treatment was followed by roughly 88% reductions in PTSD and 87% in depression at one month, with improved disability and no serious cardiac events (open-label, n = 30 SOF veterans with TBI).

Cherian, K. N., Keynan, J. N., Anker, L., Faerman, A., Brown, R. E., Shamma, A., Keynan, O., Coetzee, J. P., Batail, J.-M., Phillips, A., Bassano, N. J., Sahlem, G. L., Inzunza, J., Millar, T., Dickinson, J., Rolle, C. E., Keller, J., Adamson, M., Kratter, I. H., & Williams, N. R. (2024). Magnesium–ibogaine therapy in veterans with traumatic brain injuries. Nature Medicine, 30(2), 373–381. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02705-w

Veteran / SOF (with 5-MeO-DMT)

In a Mexico clinical program, ibogaine followed by 5-MeO-DMT produced large improvements in PTSD, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and cognition, sustained to 6 months (prospective open-label, n = 86).

Davis, A. K., Xin, Y., Sepeda, N. D., & Averill, L. A. (2023). Open-label study of consecutive ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT assisted-therapy for trauma-exposed male Special Operations Forces veterans. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 49(5), 587–596. https://doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2023.2220874

Veteran / SOF — earlier data

The earlier retrospective survey of that same program reported large reductions in suicidal ideation, PTSD, depression, and anxiety (n = 51).

Davis, A. K., Averill, L. A., Sepeda, N. D., Barsuglia, J. P., & Amoroso, T. (2020). Psychedelic treatment for trauma-related psychological and cognitive impairment among U.S. Special Operations Forces veterans. Chronic Stress, 4, 2470547020939564. https://doi.org/10.1177/2470547020939564

Three further published papers analyze the same 30-veteran Stanford cohort (one trial, multiple analyses): Brown et al. (2025) — mystical-experience intensity predicted PTSD improvement (J. Affective Disorders, 395, 120722); Sridhar et al. (2026) — fMRI changes in blood flow and connectivity (Biol. Psychiatry: CNNI, 11(6)); Geoly et al. (2026) — increased cortical thickness and ~1.3-year drop in predicted brain age (iScience, 29(3)).

Ibogaine carries documented cardiac risk (QT prolongation / arrhythmia); these protocols pair it with magnesium specifically to reduce that risk. Ibogaine is Schedule I in the U.S.; veterans who pursue it generally travel abroad.

5-MeO-DMTno standalone veteran trial+

No standalone veteran trial of 5-MeO-DMT exists as of 2026. The only veteran data come from programs that pair it with ibogaine — see Davis et al. (2023) and Davis et al. (2020) under Ibogaine.

Ayahuasca / DMT2 veteran studies+

A small combat-veteran case series and naturalistic retreat data are encouraging — but small and uncontrolled, so read the magnitudes cautiously.

Combat veterans

7 of 8 combat veterans showed meaningful PTSD improvement after a 3-day ayahuasca retreat (5 of 7 maintained at 3 months). A 2024 published correction lowered the original severity claims — the sample's baseline stress was moderate, not full-threshold.

Weiss, B., Dinh-Williams, L.-A. L., Beller, N., Raugh, I. M., Strauss, G. P., & Campbell, W. K. (2023). Ayahuasca in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: Mixed-methods case series evaluation in military combat veterans. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 16(Suppl 3), S718–S722. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001625 (correction: 10.1037/tra0001730)

Veteran — retreats

Across naturalistic retreats, both ayahuasca and psilocybin improved PTSD, depression, anxiety, sleep, and reintegration; ayahuasca showed the strongest PTSD effect (observational, n = 58).

Calnan, M., Blest-Hopley, G., Busch, C., Adams, M., Ruffell, S. G. D., Piper, T., Roseman, L., Kettner, H., & Carhart-Harris, R. (2025). Exploring the therapeutic effects of psychedelics administered to military veterans in naturalistic retreat settings. Brain and Behavior, 15(7), e70660. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70660

Foundational (not patient data): Nielson & Megler (2014), a theoretical chapter proposing ayahuasca as a candidate PTSD therapy, in The Therapeutic Use of Ayahuasca (Springer). There are no veteran trials of synthetic/IV DMT as of 2026.

LSDno veteran trials+

No veteran-, active-duty-, or SOF-specific human trials of LSD exist as of 2026. The modern LSD evidence base is general-population and early-stage (chiefly anxiety). Mid-20th-century military LSD programs were not therapeutic clinical research and don't qualify.

Cannabis1 veteran RCT+

The one randomized, placebo-controlled trial of cannabis for PTSD was done in veterans — and it did not beat placebo. Worth knowing before relying on it.

Veteran

Across three cannabis preparations, none outperformed placebo on PTSD symptoms over three weeks; all groups improved and cannabis was generally well tolerated (crossover RCT, n = 80).

Bonn-Miller, M. O., Sisley, S., Riggs, P., Yazar-Klosinski, B., Wang, J. B., Loflin, M. J. E., Shechet, B., Hennigan, C., Matthews, R., Emerson, A., & Doblin, R. (2021). The short-term impact of 3 smoked cannabis preparations versus placebo on PTSD symptoms: A randomized cross-over clinical trial. PLOS ONE, 16(3), e0246990. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246990

The broader veteran cannabis literature is mostly observational use-prevalence research rather than controlled efficacy trials, so this RCT stands as the rigorous veteran-specific entry.

See which of these are recruiting veterans right now →

Programs & Organizations

Where veterans are getting help

Veteran-founded nonprofits and clinical programs that fund treatment, screen and prepare veterans, and run their own research. We're not affiliated with these and don't take placement fees — read each program's materials carefully.

Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS)

Grants · Research · Advocacy

Provides grants for veterans seeking psychedelic-assisted therapy for PTSD and TBI, plus research funding and policy advocacy. Funded the cohort in the Stanford ibogaine study.

vetsolutions.org →

Foundational Healing Grants help cover treatment and travel; application-based.

Heroic Hearts Project

Vetted retreats · Prep & integration

Connects veterans, spouses, and family members to vetted psychedelic retreats with screening, preparation, integration, and alumni support — including legal psilocybin in Oregon and international programs.

heroicheartsproject.org →

Structured cohort program; scholarships available.

The Mission Within

Clinical program · SOF veterans

A clinical psychedelic program (Mexico/Costa Rica) for Special Operations veterans and family members, using ibogaine, 5-MeO-DMT, and psilocybin for treatment-resistant PTSD, TBI, depression, and addiction.

missionwithin.org →

Application and screening required; treatment occurs outside the U.S.

Healing Breakthrough

Research & advocacy

Veteran-led nonprofit funding and promoting MDMA-assisted therapy research, training, and education — with the goal of making the treatment available to veterans through the VA.

healingbreakthrough.org →

Advocacy organization, not a direct treatment provider.

Beond

Ibogaine clinic · Mexico · Veterans & first responders

A veteran-founded ibogaine treatment clinic in Cancún, Mexico. Its veteran-and-first-responder track, Beond Service, runs a structured arc — weeks of guided preparation, medically-supervised treatment on-site, and weeks of integration — and extends support to spouses and families. Because ibogaine is Schedule I in the U.S., this care takes place outside the country.

beondibogaine.com →

Application and medical screening required. Ibogaine carries real cardiac risks, so clinical screening is essential; read the program's safety materials carefully.

Other clinical options

Not veteran-founded, but legal and accessible now. We'll add more here as we vet them.

Mindbloom

At-home ketamine therapy · Telehealth

Clinician-prescribed, at-home ketamine therapy for depression and anxiety, delivered by telehealth with guided sessions and integration support. A for-profit company, not veteran-founded — but for many it's the most accessible legal option available now, since ketamine is FDA-approved.

mindbloom.com →

Referral link includes a discount. Requires clinical screening.

Support & Integration

During, after, and in between

Free, confidential help — whether you're integrating an experience, checking what you have, or in need of someone to talk to right now.

Fireside Project

Psychedelic peer support line

Free, confidential, non-clinical emotional support by phone or text — during or after a psychedelic experience, or if you're supporting someone through one.

Call or text 62-FIRESIDE (623-473-7433) →

Daily 11am–11pm PT. Not a crisis line — for emergencies use 988.

DanceSafe

Harm reduction · Drug checking

The original North American harm-reduction nonprofit — reagent test kits, fentanyl test strips, and clearer education on what's actually in a substance.

dancesafe.org →

Test kits and strips available online.

Veterans Crisis Line

24/7 · Confidential · No enrollment needed

Immediate, confidential crisis support for veterans, service members, and their families — by phone, text, or chat, any time.

Dial 988, then press 1 · or text 838255 →

veteranscrisisline.net

Free ongoing mental-health care

Licensed clinicians · Veterans

If you want sustained therapy beyond a crisis line: Give an Hour (pro-bono therapists, any era), Cohen Veterans Network (post-9/11), and VA Mental Health.

giveanhour.org →

See also cohenveteransnetwork.org · mentalhealth.va.gov

Resonate Health

Supervised medication tapering · Prep & integration

A nurse-practitioner-led practice offering personalized, medically-supervised tapering off long-term psychiatric medications, alongside nervous-system stabilization and psychedelic preparation and integration support. Because some medications interact with this kind of work, any change belongs with a prescribing clinician — and is never something to do on your own.

iresonatehealth.com →

Virtual practice; initial consultation required. An independent practice — not affiliated with Psychedelic Vets.

Legal & Policy Status

Where things stand

Current as of June 2026. This moves fast — treat it as a starting point, not legal advice.

MDMA is not FDA-approved. In August 2024 the FDA declined the MDMA-assisted therapy application for PTSD and requested another Phase 3 trial. MDMA remains Schedule I.
Federal direction is shifting. An April 2026 executive order directed faster FDA/DEA review and access pathways for psychedelic treatments (including a Right-to-Try route), but did not reschedule or legalize any substance.
The VA now funds psychedelic research. Since December 2024 the VA has funded and expanded MDMA and psilocybin trials for PTSD at multiple facilities. Access is research-only — not yet standard care.
Two states offer supervised access. Oregon (psilocybin services, operational since 2023) and Colorado (Natural Medicine program, healing centers launching 2025–2026) allow regulated, supervised use for adults 21+ — supervised-service models, not retail sale.
Ketamine and esketamine are legal and available for treatment-resistant depression (esketamine is FDA-approved; not for PTSD). Psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, DMT/ayahuasca, 5-MeO-DMT, and ibogaine remain Schedule I federally.

See the full Legal Pathway — an interactive map of where psychedelics stand, state by state →

Research isn't the only path — but it's a real one.

If a study is the right fit, our directory lists every vetted trial recruiting veterans right now, linked straight to the research team.

Browse studies seeking veterans →