Prince Harry has been accused of ‘encouraging illegal drug use’ in the US by a group of anti-drug activists, who have filed a lawsuit against him and his company BetterUp.
The group, called Drug Free America Foundation, claims that Harry and BetterUp, a mental health coaching firm where Harry works as a chief impact officer, are promoting the use of psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin and MDMA, which are illegal in most states. The group alleges that Harry and BetterUp are ‘misleading the public’ by claiming that these drugs have ‘therapeutic benefits’ for treating mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder
According to a report by Gbnews, The group also claims that Harry and BetterUp are ‘violating federal law’ by ‘advertising, marketing, and selling’ these drugs without the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The group is seeking an injunction to stop Harry and BetterUp from ‘engaging in any further unlawful conduct’, as well as damages and legal fees.
The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California on Monday, December 4, 2023. Harry and BetterUp have not yet responded to the lawsuit, but they have previously defended their involvement in the field of psychedelic medicine.
In an interview with Fast Company in October, Harry said that he was ‘fascinated’ by the potential of psychedelic drugs to ‘unlock new possibilities’ for mental health. He said that he was ‘not a hippy’, but that he was ‘open-minded’ and ‘curious’ about the research and evidence that showed that these drugs could ‘help people heal’.
He also said that he was ‘proud’ to be part of BetterUp, which he joined in March, and that he was ‘passionate’ about helping people ‘reach their full potential’.
BetterUp, which was founded in 2013, is a company that offers online coaching, counselling, and wellness services to individuals and organisations. The company claims to have over 2,000 coaches and 100,000 members, including employees from companies such as Airbnb, LinkedIn, and NASA.
The company also claims to be ‘at the forefront’ of the ‘psychedelic renaissance’, and that it supports the ‘responsible and ethical’ use of psychedelic drugs for mental health. The company has partnered with several organisations that are involved in the research and development of psychedelic drugs, such as the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), the Usona Institute, and the Imperial College London.
The company has also launched a platform called BetterUp Care, which offers access to ‘evidence-based’ and ‘FDA-approved’ psychedelic therapies, such as ketamine and esketamine, for people with treatment-resistant depression. The company says that it follows the ‘highest standards of safety and quality’ and that it works with ‘licensed and trained’ medical professionals to provide these therapies.
The company says that it is ‘committed’ to advancing the ‘science and practice’ of psychedelic medicine, and that it hopes to ‘transfor
