Veterans advocacy non-profit Heroic Hearts Project has published a comprehensive guide on psychedelics.
On Feb 18, the organization revealed on social media that “Psychedelics: The Veteran’s Field Manual” is now available online via Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Written by Afghanistan Army Ranger veteran Jesse Gould, founder of Heroic Hearts, the book offers guidance to fellow vets interested in psychedelic therapies for overcoming trauma and mental health issues. It explains why veterans struggle and why psychedelic treatments have succeeded in several cases when nothing else works.
“Since 9/11, more veterans have been lost to suicide than to combat,” a posting about the launch stated. “Traditional treatments for PTSD, depression, and moral injury are failing, but psychedelic-assisted therapy is showing unprecedented success.”
In Gould’s new book, readers will find insightful information about psilocybin, ayahuasca, 5-MeO-DMT, ibogaine, ketamine and MDMA therapies. He founded Heroic Hearts in 2017 after completing four ayahuasca ceremonies in Peru for spiritual healing purposes. Gould now leads the organization’s efforts in education, research and advocacy.
Image credit: Amazon
To date, the non-profit has guided over 1,000 veterans to legal psychedelic retreats in countries like, Peru, Mexico and Jamaica. Independent studies (self-reported) show that 80 per cent of these participants achieved significant improvements after one program.
Heroic Hearts maintains a partnership with Imperial College London, completing landmark research on psychedelics with veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and related combat trauma.
Last year, the advocacy outfit merged with another veterans mental health organization, Healing Breakthrough, to open domestic treatment avenues for American veterans.
Heroic Hearts also hosts annual “Operation Freedom to Heal Galas” that raise funds, honour veterans and build community. The 2025 event aboard the USS Hornet drew celebrities, policymakers and survivors together. Prince Harry made a surprise pre-recorded video appearance at last year’s gala, voicing his support.
Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS) and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) are two other organizations making significant contributions to the veterans psychedelic therapeutics space. VETS offers free education courses and resources for psychedelic therapies targeting PTSD and brain injuries while MAPS drives rigorous MDMA research for veteran trauma.
Alongside Heroic Hearts, they push policy reform and pave new avenues for those in dire need of impactful treatment options.
Read more: U.S. veteran’s firefighting applications denied over taking psilocybin for brain cancer
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