Former Law Enforcement Officer Details Psychedelic Therapy for PTSD

A former law enforcement official has published a detailed account of using psychedelic therapy to process trauma accumulated during years of police work, adding to growing evidence that plant medicines may offer unique benefits for first responders struggling with occupational stress.

Kemmi Sadler, who now works with the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), described her experience with ayahuasca as "a direct engagement" with grief rather than an escape from it. "It was a fundamentally different process than the one I had relied on throughout my career—not control or suppression, but forgiveness, surrender and understanding," Sadler wrote in an op-ed published this week.

The account comes as multiple cities and states consider regulated access to psychedelic substances, with particular attention to therapeutic applications for veterans and first responders. Oregon launched the nation's first legal psilocybin therapy program in 2023, while Colorado voters approved similar measures in 2022.

The First Responder Crisis

Law enforcement officers face elevated rates of PTSD, depression and suicide compared to the general population. The Badge of Life organization estimates that more officers die by suicide than in the line of duty each year, though comprehensive national data remains limited due to inconsistent reporting standards.

Traditional mental health interventions often prove inadequate for first responders, who may face departmental stigma around seeking help or struggle with treatments that don't address the cumulative nature of occupational trauma. Sadler's account emphasizes this gap—describing years of relying on "control or suppression" before exploring alternative approaches.

LEAP, the organization Sadler now represents, has emerged as a prominent voice advocating for drug policy reform from within the law enforcement community. The group's members include former police chiefs, prosecutors and corrections officials who argue that prohibition-based approaches have failed.

Growing Research Base

Psychedelic-assisted therapy has gained scientific credibility in recent years, with FDA-designated breakthrough therapy status for MDMA-assisted treatment for PTSD and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. Johns Hopkins University established the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research in 2019, while multiple universities now conduct federally approved studies.

Ayahuasca—a plant-based brew containing DMT used in Indigenous Amazonian ceremonies—remains less studied than synthetic psychedelics in clinical settings. But preliminary research suggests potential benefits for depression and anxiety, with effects that participants often describe as emotionally cathartic rather than merely mood-elevating.

The substance exists in a legal gray area in the United States. While DMT is Schedule I, some churches have won religious freedom exemptions for ceremonial ayahuasca use. Most Americans seeking the experience travel to countries where traditional use is legal or tolerated.

Policy Implications

Sadler's public testimony adds to a small but growing number of law enforcement voices supporting expanded access to psychedelic therapy. The perspective carries particular weight in policy debates, where opposition often centers on concerns about public safety and drug normalization.

Several states are considering legislation that would create legal pathways for therapeutic psychedelic use. Bills in Massachusetts, Missouri and other states specifically mention first responders and veterans as priority populations for early access programs.

But significant barriers remain. Federal Schedule I classification limits research and creates banking complications for state-legal programs. Insurance coverage is virtually nonexistent, leaving treatment costs—which can exceed $3,000 per session in Oregon—prohibitive for many who might benefit.

What's Next

The FDA is expected to make a decision on MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD in 2024, which could create the first legal prescription psychedelic in the United States. That approval could accelerate state-level reforms and increase pressure on federal rescheduling.

For law enforcement specifically, some departments have begun exploring peer support models and trauma-informed approaches that acknowledge the limits of traditional mental health resources. Whether that evolution will extend to psychedelic therapy remains uncertain—but accounts like Sadler's suggest the conversation is no longer hypothetical.

LEAP continues to advocate for evidence-based drug policy reform, with psychedelic therapy representing one piece of a broader argument that criminalization often creates more harm than the substances themselves.

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This article is based on original reporting by www.marijuanamoment.net.