Missouri is set to invest $5 million in research exploring the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, for treating opioid addiction. The funding, sourced from the state's opioid settlement fund, aims to address the escalating opioid crisis and reduce overdose fatalities. This initiative underscores a growing interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies within the medical community.
The Missouri Department of Mental Health is soliciting expert guidance to formulate competitive grants for projects focused on psilocybin's efficacy in treating opioid use disorders. A memo released by the department seeks input from contractors to aid in crafting requests for proposals (RFPs) centered on psilocybin-related opioid research.
The grant program stems from House Bill 2010, which initially proposed $10 million for studying ibogaine, another psychedelic substance, for opioid addiction treatment. The bill was later amended to prioritize psilocybin research. Ultimately, the final version of the bill allocated funds for general "opioid research and its ability to treat opioid addiction."
The Department of Mental Health has clarified its focus on psilocybin, stating, "The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to obtain written feedback from the vendor community for use in preparation of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for procurement of Opioid Related Research of Psilocybin for the State of Missouri."
The RFI poses several key questions to potential researchers, including:
- How would research into the use of psilocybin be conducted, including the use of human subjects?
- What is the expected duration of the research project, and would it be conducted in phases?
- How will the FDA's complete response letter to Lykos Therapeutics regarding MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD impact psilocybin research?
- How does psilocybin research align with approved uses listed in Exhibit E of the National Opioid Settlements?
- What are the financial implications if psilocybin research is deemed not an approved use under the National Opioid Settlements?
- What recommendations do you have regarding the RFP for psilocybin research related to the ability to treat opioid use?
Responses to the RFI are due by the end of October.
Eapen Thampy, founder of Psychedelic Missouri, expressed enthusiasm for the state's exploration of psychedelics in addressing substance use crises. He also noted the importance of further investigation into ibogaine's potential.
Representative Cody Smith, the sponsor of HB 2010, explained that the shift from ibogaine to psilocybin was influenced by concerns raised by the Department of Mental Health regarding the safety of ibogaine research. Smith stated, "They had concerns about the ibogaine research they had read, and there are concerns about the dangers involved in that research. However, they are interested in the psilocybin piece."
This initiative positions Missouri among a growing number of states exploring psychedelic-assisted therapies for various mental health conditions and substance use disorders. The research is expected to provide valuable insights into the potential of psilocybin as a treatment for opioid addiction, potentially paving the way for new therapeutic interventions.
