An Open Letter to the Washington State Legislature Regarding Psychedelic Medicines
[if you are a healthcare provider that would like to sign this letter, please complete this form]
Dear Members of the Washington State Legislature,
We are healthcare professionals who urge the Washington State Legislature to decriminalize the use of psychedelic medicines.
Washington State is in a mental health and addiction crisis. The nonprofit Mental Health America ranks Washington State as having the sixth-highest rate of mental illness in America, based on CDC data. COVID-19 has increased rates of addiction, depression, anxiety, and other illnesses, with an estimated 1 in 3 people now facing mental health challenges. Suicidality is rising sharply.
As healthcare professionals, we are acutely aware of the urgent need for more treatment methods for mental illness and addiction. While psychotherapy is helpful for many people, it is not effective for everyone. Likewise, studies have shown that pharmaceutical treatments such as SSRIs have limited effectiveness, especially for addiction, PTSD, and other debilitating illnesses.
A large body of peer-reviewed research suggests that psychedelic medicines can be very effective and safe. Based on the results of randomized, controlled trials, the FDA has designated psilocybin and MDMA as “breakthrough therapies”, indicating that they may represent significant improvement over existing therapies. Initial research suggest that psychedelic medicines may be safe and efficacious in treating addictions and PTSD. Across studies, psilocybin has been found to increase well-being. Study participants commonly rate their psychedelic-healing experiences as some of the most profoundly important experiences in their lives.
Psychedelic medicines have particular value for military veterans struggling with PTSD. Many veterans who were not helped by traditional psychopharmacology have found significant healing through psychedelics. Veteran-advocacy groups like VETS provide resources, research, and advocacy for U.S. military veterans seeking treatment with psychedelic-assisted therapies.
We urgently want to use psychedelic medicines in our work with Washington residents. Many of us have lost clients, friends, or family to addiction or suicide, and we believe these deaths may have been preventable with access to psychedelic medicines. It is heartbreaking and frustrating to not have access to life-saving medicines.
Notably, increasing access to psychedelics is a bipartisan cause, with vocal support from prominent Republicans and Democrats.
While an underground network of dedicated practitioners use psychedelic medicines to heal their clients, the War on Drugs keeps these providers in the shadows and out-of-reach to most Washington State residents. BIPOC, low-income, and rural communities have particular challenges accessing psychedelic treatments. If the Washington State Legislature decriminalizes psychedelic medicines, it will make a significant improvement in equitable access to these life-saving treatments.
A summary of the scientific research on psychedelic medicines is available here.
A summary of the research on the risks/harms from psychedelics is available here.
Signed by,
Tony Rousmaniere, PsyD - Psychologist in Seattle
Erin Pierson, LMHC - Counselor in Seattle
Nathan Sackett, MD - Psychiatrist with specialty in treating addictions, Seattle
Sunil K. Aggarwal, MD, PhD, FAAPMR - Psychiatrist, Co-Founder and Co-Director, AIMS Institute, Seattle www.aimsinstitute.net
Andrew Bryant, MPH, LICSW - Clinical Social Worker in Seattle
Tony Rella, MA, LMHC - Counselor in Seattle
Matthias Roberts, LMHCA - Counselor in Seattle
Alyssa Converse, MA, LMHCA - Clinical Mental Health Therapist in Seattle www.conversecounseling.com
Marykate Tihinen, MA, LMHC, CDPT - Therapist and clinical supervisor www.unified-counseling.org
Emma Knighton, LMHC - Trauma Therapist, Counselor in Seattle www.unitywithincounseling.com
Marisa Hendrickson, LMHC - Counselor in Seattle marisahendrickson.com
Samantha Poyta, MSW, LSWAIC - Counselor in Seattle www.sampoytacounseling.com
Fatima Malik, MA, LMHCA, ATRP - Art Therapist and Mental Health Counselor in Kitsap County, WA
Katerina Lamola, LICSW - Clinical Social Worker in Seattle
Scott Ross, MA, LMHC - Counselor in Mountlake Terrace, WA
Ben Trelease, MA, LMHC - Counselor in Seattle www.bentrelease.com
Leanna Standish, PhD, MD - Neuroscientist and naturopathic physician, Co-Founder and Co-Director, Aims Institute, Seattle www.aimsinstitute.net
Alison Draisin PsyD, LMHC - Psychologist in Seattle www.aimsinstitute.net
Conor Watters - NMS4 medical student in Seattle
Gwen Ingram-Jones, LMFT - Marriage and Family Therapist in Seattle
Zane Behnke, MSW, SUDP - Social Worker in Seattle www.zanebehnke.com
Madeleine Turner, LMHCA, MA - Counselor in Seattle
Trevor Bidstrup, MA, LMHC - Psychotherapist in Bellevue
Sage Ann Espitia, LMHC - Counselor in Seattle
Brandon Zahl, MA, LMHCA, SUDPT - Therapist in Seattle www.vitalflowtherapy.com
Mary Kelleher, LMFT, PhD - Marriage and Family Therapist in Seattle www.marykelleherlmft.com
Tina Schermer Sellers, Ph.D, LMFT, CST-S - WAMFT Supervisor of the Year, WAMFT Distinguished Clinical Member - www.nwioi.com
Ashley Marie Anthony, LMFTA - Therapist in Seattle - www.ashanthony.com
Heidi Stauber, MA, LMFT - Marriage and Family Therapist in Seattle
Jenny Cooke Malstrom, MS, LMFT - Individual and Couples Therapist in Seattle
Lindsey Youngquist, MD - Physician in Seattle
Forest Dobbs, ND - Naturopathic Physician in Seattle www.aimsinstitute.net
Judith R Gordon, PhD - Psychologist in Seattle
Esther M Lobato, LICSW - Clinical Social Worker in Seattle
Christeine Terry, PhD - Psychologist in Seattle
Sam Kennedy, LMHC - Counselor in Seattle www.Samkennedycounseling.com
Adam Perkins, PhD - Psychologist in Tacoma
Hannah Strom, MA - Post-doctoral resident in Des Moines, WA
Jamie R. Epting, LMHC - Counselor in Seattle
K. Jessica Sokol, LMHCA - Counselor in Burien https://www.sokolcounseling.com/
Bita Shakib, ND - Naturopathic Physician in Renton Newwavewa.com
Katie Kapugi, LMHC - Counselor in Seattle
Amy Hagerstrom, LSWAIC - Therapist in Seattle
Caitlyn Gilmore, MA - Dance and movement psychotherapist in Seattle
Breanna Carosio, LMHC - Counselor in Kitsap
Alicia Dudziak, LSWAIC - Therapist in Seattle https://www.aliciadudziak.com/
Sage Ann Espitia, LMHC - Counselor in Seattle
Carrie Ancel, MA - Counselor in Tukwila
Adam C Perkins, PhD - Psychologist in Tacoma
Myra Flor Arpin, MA, LMHCA - Counselor in Shoreline
Ashley Gundermann, ND - Naturopathic Physician in Renton Newwavewa.com
Seth Goodman, LMHC - Counselor in Seattle
Georgia Faye Grammer, MA, M.Ed., LMFT - Marriage and Family Therapist in Bothell
Avery Fisher, LMHC - Counselor in Seattle www.averyfishertherapy.com
Cindy Nover, LICSW/PhD - Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Spokane