EUDA's New FAQ Document Sheds Light on Psychedelic Therapy and Research Challenges in Europe

The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) has just released a FAQ document on the therapeutic use of psychedelic substances to enhance understanding of key developments, address policymakers' concerns, and provide insights into ongoing research. The document covers the therapeutic use and clinical research of psychedelics, as well as the prevalence and patterns of their use in Europe and the presence of unlicensed and illegal practices.

The FAQ highlights the difficulty of generalizing in this area due to the variety of substances and conditions under review. It addresses the risks of using psychedelics, noting an ongoing EUDA project aimed at better understanding the risks related to unregulated practices, such as those at retreats.

In terms of medical research, the FAQ points out that defining adjunct psychological interventions has been limited, complicating the distinction between the effects of the psychedelic substance and the associated therapy. This echoes similar concerns from the EMA.

The final question, “Are psychedelics already available for treatment in Europe?” (spoiler alert: no, they are not yet available) also highlights that future key issues will include funding reimbursement. As medication or treatment reimbursement procedures and costs are country-specific, this will significantly impact the availability of any authorized medicine.