US President Donald Trump joked that he doesn't have time for depression due to his busy work schedule.
„I don't have time for depression. You know, if you're busy enough, this can work. That's what I'm doing," Trump said during a White House briefing to unveil an executive order aimed at easing restrictions on psychedelics, which have been shown to be effective in treating a range of mental health conditions.
„The New York Times“, citing three senior officials, reported that the bill covers the use of psychedelics in research to treat major depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues.
Trump's executive order is intended to require the US government to reduce the number of bureaucratic hurdles that must be overcome before research can begin.
The reason for these changes is the rising number of suicides among American veterans and the number of opioid addictions, a senior White House official told the newspaper.
During his speech, Trump acknowledged that the rising number of suicides among the military and the rise in opioid addiction influenced the U.S. government's decision.
The U.S. President also acknowledged the role of UFC commentator and host of the podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience“, Joe Rogan, in raising awareness of the issue.
In February of this year, U.S. Surgeon General Robert Kennedy Jr. stated on Joe Rogan's podcast that 48 million people in the United States suffer from opioid addiction. He estimated that it could affect approximately 14% of the population.