Study Seeks Veterans to Treat Gambling Addiction with Psilocybin

The Heroic Hearts Project has launched a new program to give military veterans with gambling addiction a chance to try an experimental treatment using psilocybin, the main ingredient in magic mushrooms. 

Netherlands Retreat to Test Psilocybin’s Potential in Treating Gambling Addiction

This research, done in collaboration with the University of Gibraltar, will happen at a retreat in the Netherlands. It aims to find out if psilocybin can help reduce gambling addiction, reported Forces News.

Doctors classify gambling addiction as a mental health problem. People with this disorder cannot control their urge to gamble even when it hurts them. Veterans face this issue more often than others. The mental stress many experience after leaving the military often makes it worse. Regular treatments often do not work well so experts are looking at new ways to help.

Psychedelics have an influence on treating other forms of addiction when paired with psychological support, and this study is the first to assess their effect on gambling addiction. People joining the study will take part in a nine-week program, with the retreat playing a key role.

The retreat features two psilocybin ceremonies in a natural setting under the watch of trained therapists. Each person may get up to five grams of psilocybin truffles per session ensuring a safe and supportive space. 

Heroic Hearts’ Study Aims to Scientifically Prove Psilocybin’s Impact

Heroic Hearts UK CEO Keith Abraham stressed that while he believes these treatments can help, the study aims to create scientific proof to back any claims.

Abraham emphasizes that preparation has a big impact on the process. Participants spend two weeks getting ready before the retreat to grasp what is in store and to prepare their minds and emotions. The program does not stop after the week-long retreat. It keeps going with support and evaluation after the ceremony to track results and offer more guidance.

The Heroic Hearts Project, which pushes for safe and legal access to psychedelic therapy for veterans, makes sure to screen all participants carefully. This helps keep everyone safe and suitable, and it also makes the study’s findings more reliable.

The retreat, which the project pays for in full, covers all expenses except travel to and from the UK. The organizers think the study will give useful insights and bring new hope to veterans struggling with gambling addiction, a problem that has an impact on their lives and also affects their families and communities.

This groundbreaking research highlights the rising interest in how psychedelics might help treat mental health issues in those who do not respond well to standard treatments. If it works, it could lead to more complete support systems designed to meet veterans’ needs.