Keep Talking Episode 02: Alex Dominguez - Psilocybin for PTSD
Alex Dominguez is a member of the Texas House of Representatives. During our conversation, Alex talks about his political career, his knowledge of psychedelic medical research, and House Bill 1802, which would set up Texas's first medically-supervised psilocybin trial for those suffering from PTSD. 1802 has passed the Texas House 134-12, and the Senate 25-5.
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(01:00) Alex shares about his friend who suffered severe PTSD post release from the military.
(14:56) The factors that led Alex to go ahead with his decision for the PTSD bill - elected officials in the state and in the country genuinely have an affection for veterans. And though they may disagree why they were sent to a particular country to do battle, they will all agree that they've done so at great personal risk. Also, he understood that they owed them a duty to help them transition back.
(22:36) Alex knew he was taking a leap of faith while taking the decision to go ahead with the bill. He speaks about why he knew that this bill could save lives.(27:51) Governor Rick Perry’s role in the passing of the bill. Alex learned what it was like living with PTSD and explored the topic. He researched several nonprofit organizations that worked on the cause.
(32:36) Alex reveals what convinced him to investigate psychedelics as an option for those suffering. He realized that it mental illness is not a moral shortcoming.(38:15) Why we say that psychedelics offer a possible avenue for treatment.
(41:17) On what the bill has to offer for the citizens of Texas - information. The first part of the bill proposes a clinical study with Baylor College of Medicine to study the effects of psilocybin for those who have PTSD.
(48:52) Alex explains the working of psychedelics and the effects they have on the human brain.
(55:45) If the bill gets passed, what more will be available to the people?