A new documentary highlights how psychedelic compounds are offering a ray of hope to elite soldiers grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, conditions that contribute to a tragic suicide crisis among U.S. military veterans.
* Filmmakers’ View: Jon Shenk, co-director of the film In Waves and War, admitted to AFP, “We’re not scientists, we don’t know exactly what’s happening,” but added, “it does seem like there’s something to it.”
* The Documentary: Set to stream on Netflix starting Monday, the film tracks the experiences of three retired U.S. Navy SEALs struggling with the unseen trauma from their multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. After years of combat, these veterans face a different kind of war against PTSD, brain injuries, depression, and dependence on alcohol.
⚕️ The Failure of Traditional Treatment
The veterans had been prescribed various antidepressant medications, which not only proved ineffective but also caused them to become unrecognizable to their families, pushing their loved ones to a “breaking point” in dealing with their own associated trauma, according to co-director Bonni Cohen.
* Experimental Lifeline: The three men travel to Mexico for a non-traditional treatment that utilizes two powerful psychedelic substances: ibogaine, derived from an African shrub, and 5-MeO-DMT, sourced from the secretions of the Colorado River toad.
* A “Complete Reboot”: Marcus Capone, a former soldier featured in the film, described the treatment as being “like a complete reboot,” which “kind of brings you back to your truer self, before you had any real struggles or real issues in your life.”
🤝 Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS)
Marcus Capone and his wife, Amber, established the organization VETS, through which they have facilitated treatment for about 1,200 U.S. veterans in Mexico since 2019. In Mexico, veterans can access substances that are prohibited in the United States and most other nations.
* Skepticism Overcome: Gaining the couple’s trust allowed the filmmakers to document a community that values discretion. Many patients, initially wary of drugs linked to the excesses of American counter-culture, were skeptical. Veteran Matty Roberts, another subject, is shown sighing, “If this crazy hippie-ass shit helps, if it helped my friends, then maybe I should do it.”
* Inner Journey: The documentary captures Roberts’ intense physical and emotional reaction—including breaking down in tears—followed by a significant shift in his life outlook. Animated sequences are used to illustrate the veterans’ journeys through their subconscious minds and profound wounds.
🔬 Push for Expanded Research
There is growing scientific interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics (like psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA) for treating depression and addiction. The film shows researchers at Stanford University intrigued by the veterans’ swift mental improvements.
* Plea to Policymakers: The veterans are hopeful that sharing their stories will persuade U.S. politicians to amend regulations that currently restrict the study of these drugs. Amber Capone stressed that they are not advocating for outright legalization, but for reducing the obstacles to research so that data can be expanded to better understand if these therapies are viable.
* Bipartisan Support: This appeal appears to transcend political divisions: Democrat-led Oregon and Colorado have recently authorized the supervised use of psilocybin, while Republican-controlled Texas approved a law this summer to invest $50 million of public money into ibogaine research.
* Suicide Crisis Data: According to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there were 6,407 veteran suicides in 2022, equating to more than 17 every day.
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