New treatments for mental health pass committee

By Chase Pray and Hannah McDonough, Missouri News Network
JEFFERSON CITY – Bills that would allow easier access to controlled substances believed to combat mental health disorders advanced out of committee Wednesday.
The House Emerging Issues Committee passed bills regarding two Schedule I controlled substances: ibogaine and psilocybin.
Under House Bills 1643 and 1717, psilocybin, a chemical found in mushrooms, would be legalized as a reliable mental health treatment and allowed to be prescribed by licensed physicians.
HB 2817 and HB 2961 would provide money for ibogaine research. Ibogaine is a psychoactive compound derived from the root bark of the iboga plant.
Neither drug is currently approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for recreational or medical use.
The measures are sponsored by Reps. Matthew Overcast, R-Ava, and Richard West, R-Wentzville.
“Unfortunately, I can tell you, as a veteran, we’re losing too many (veterans),” Overcast said. “I lost one of my buddies to suicide because of the way we have been very close minded on how we treat mental health, and it’s been the same way for years and years.”
Psilocybin, more commonly known as mushrooms, is a psychedelic drug. It has been clinically tested for medical purposes, mainly to treat mental health disorders, but it is still not legal to prescribe in Missouri.
Both legislators want psilocybin to be legally used to treat PTSD, major depressive disorder, substance use or end of life care for anyone 21 years or older. However, HB 1717 also requires the patient to be a veteran.
Ibogaine is illegal nationwide but has been used in clinics outside the U.S. as a treatment for individuals seeking to address opioid dependencies and mental health concerns.
Little is currently known about the full range of ibogaine’s potential side effects. A 2021 study from the U.S. National Library of Medicine found there could be serious cardiac risks associated with using the drug.
Opposition say lack of FDA approval is a large point of concern. Jacob Scott testified against the bills. He is a registered lobbyist and the director of legislative affairs for the Missouri State Medical Association.
“While we have heard anecdotal testimony supportive of these products and therapies, it is critical that these remain unavailable until their efficacy and safety are confirmed through regular clinical trials by the FDA,” Scott said in a statement. “There is no current approved use by the FDA and therefore these bills should be rejected by the legislature at this time.”
West thinks these treatments could be preferable to patients in comparison to current mental health treatments.
“You’re talking about a very short, intense period of treatment, compared to a long, maybe a lifelong treatment of pharmaceutical drugs,” West said.