Dec 19, 2023
Retired Brigadier General Dr. Steve Xenakis is Executive Director of the American Psychedelic Practitioners Association, a group of clinicians who are interested in developing and promoting the mainstream use of psychedelic and plant medicines for the treatment of mental health conditions. APPA works to educate practitioners on best practices and explores AI's potential role in identifying patients who could benefit from psychedelic therapies.
Steve explains, "This is a multidisciplinary group. As the treatments unfold, we're seeing it's multidisciplinary. We have psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, advanced nurse practitioners, and physician's assistants because it's a team approach. When we look at the best treatments and therapies, these people come together. They can collaborate in terms of not only prescribing the medications but also conducting the therapy and supporting the patients who come to them for help."
"They've come into this organization because they realize that to promote these treatments and therapies there needs to be a pathway to mainstream them into US healthcare. For many, for the past several decades, a number of practitioners have been using these medicines compounds and treatments. Still, they've had to be in the so-called underground because, since 1972, the use of MDMA and psilocybin has been illegal. And only recently have we seen ketamine be used. And there are other substances."
"As we think about it, and particularly with the momentum with MDMA and psilocybin in getting approval from the FDA, there's an interest in now bringing this out upfront and getting them into US healthcare and to go through what the processes are to get that done. That's how this organization has come together and been conceived."
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