Psychedelic Drugs for Veterans?

I recently received an email from the VA with the following headline:

“VA starts new psychedelic trials to treat depression.”

Needless to say, it caught my attention. When I clicked on the link, the actual title of the article was:

“VA launches psilocybin trial for Veterans with treatment-resistant depression.”

I am not going to rehash the entire article, but I want to share one paragraph that particularly caught my attention:

“Far too many Veterans are living with mental health conditions that don’t respond to available treatments,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “Under President Trump, VA is pursuing all avenues to evaluate new treatments and offer meaningful relief for those who have worn the uniform. This clinical trial reflects another step toward this goal.”

There are a couple of statements here that I believe deserve some consideration.

First, Secretary Collins said that these conditions “don’t respond to available treatments.” I understand that he is referring to treatments currently available through the medical system, particularly for veterans who have not responded adequately to conventional treatments.

But it does raise an important question: What exactly is being considered an “available treatment”?

I believe that the Bible and a relationship with Jesus Christ can provide genuine help, hope, healing, purpose, and direction to veterans who are struggling. Yet, as far as I can tell, that is not considered an available treatment option within the VA system.

Secondly, the statement that the VA is “pursuing all avenues” is difficult for me to reconcile with my own experiences dealing with the VA, including interactions involving chaplains. In my experience, “all avenues” does not really mean all avenues when it comes to openly presenting the Bible and Jesus Christ as an answer to the spiritual needs of veterans.

Further down in the article, I found this statement:

“In addition to this trial, VA is involved in 20 active clinical trials focused on psychedelic therapies for mental health conditions. All VA research — including research into psychedelics – is conducted under strict safety protocols and in full compliance with federal guidelines.”

I understand the desire to research new treatments. I also understand that veterans suffering from depression, PTSD, and other mental health struggles need help. We should never be indifferent to their suffering, but I cannot help asking: Are we looking everywhere for answers while overlooking the spiritual needs of the very people we are trying to help?

Recently, I have spoken with multiple veterans who previously struggled greatly with depression and PTSD. Their testimonies are remarkably similar: they cried out to God for help, and God answered them. Their lives have never been the same—and they are better because of what God has done in their lives.

I have also encountered many others who have witnessed firsthand the difficulties veterans face. They have told me that spiritual help is desperately needed in our veteran communities.

Up to this point, I have experienced almost no negative feedback from the veterans I have personally spoken with or from those to whom I have given biblically based materials. Most simply smile and say, “Thank you.”

Interestingly, the comments I have received along the lines of “That’s not needed” or “That’s not allowed” have come from people inside the VA system, not from the veterans accessing the system.

Now, to be fair, there are definitely people within the VA who are supportive of getting biblical truth and spiritual help to veterans. But even then, there appear to be limitations on how that help can be offered unless the veteran specifically asks for it.

I completely understand that we should never force God or the Bible on anyone. The Gospel is not something we should impose upon someone who does not want to hear it.

But not even wanting biblical help to be an option for a veteran who is open to it—that is what I struggle to understand.

The VA has a Whole Health Program built around the question, “What matters to you?” The program includes eight different areas of well-being, one of which is Spirit & Soul. Earlier this year, I reached out to the VA in an attempt to offer a Spiritual Support Group as an option for veterans. To make a long story short, a chaplain was eventually copied on the emails, took over the conversation, and essentially communicated that such a group was not needed.

On the surface, the lack of willingness to even offer biblical help to veterans is frustrating. However, I also understand that this is a spiritual battle. God is not limited by government systems, policies, programs, or institutions. He is not bound by what the VA will or will not allow. If a veteran cries out to Him, God can reach that veteran wherever he or she may be.

That is why I believe we need to keep praying, keep going, and keep looking for opportunities to get the truth of God's Word to our nation's veterans. There are veterans who are hurting. There are veterans who are searching for hope. There are veterans who have tried one thing after another and are still struggling. And there are veterans who desperately need to hear that there is hope and healing found in Jesus Christ.

So, please pray:

-Pray that the Lord would continue to open doors.

-Pray that He would give us wisdom and favor.

-Pray that He would put the right people in the right places.

-And most importantly, pray that veterans who are hurting would hear the truth of God's Word and come to know Jesus Christ.

The quotes from the VA article were sourced from news.va.gov.