ZB ZB
Sport
100 Years of ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Listen: 100 Years of ZB Podcast hosted by Mike Hosking

'A lot of demand': Psychiatrist chats ecstacy treatment for PTSD

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Fri, 4 Sep 2026, 5:55pm
Photo / Getty Images
Photo / Getty Images

Medsafe has approved two New Zealand-based psychiatrists to begin prescribing ecstasy for patients who are resistant to normal medications. 

The psychiatrists will be able to provide pharmaceutical-grade MDMA to patients within their clinics, but not to take home. 

One of the psychiatrists permitted to prescribe the medication, Dr Gary Wynn, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the treatment. 

"It seems to quiet down the fear centres in our brain, so that people aren't as overwhelmed when they start talking about, thinking about, and then processing these traumatic experiences they've had," Wynn explained.

LISTEN ABOVE 

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you