Casey Means

I want those women, and I know you do too,

to be able to have a thorough conversation with their doctor and know whether they are at higher risk for side effects when prescribed the medication.

I am passionate about women's health, and I think it is disrespectful to women.

We prescribe a huge amount of hormonal contraceptive, and I do not believe most of those conversations have informed consent because of the pressures that doctors are under because of our broken healthcare system.

I want what's best for women, as do you.

And I want every woman who could be at risk for a side effect to know if a woman died from a stroke or a blood clot because they did not have a thorough conversation.

Thank you so much, Senator Collins.

And I also thank you sincerely for engaging so deeply with my work and learning about me.

This is a very important question and

I would start by just saying that I believe what I would say as a private citizen is in many cases different than what I would say as a public health official.

Joining a team where the purpose of this role is to communicate absolutely the best evidence-based science to the American people to keep them safe, thriving, and healthy.

And when it comes to psychedelic therapy for mental health issues, I think the science is still emerging.

And so it would certainly not be a recommendation to the American people to do that under no circumstances.

I do believe that there is exciting work being done in this area that needs to continue on psychedelic therapies for PTSD in veterans, for mental health issues.

And some of the researchers who are doing this work have said it's some of the most promising and exciting of their entire careers.

So I look forward to following that.

But to be very clear, under no circumstances would I recommend that to the American people in this role.

Our illicit drug use problem in our country is monumental and severe.

And I look forward to working with you on these issues that are so important.

Yeah, in that passage of the book, I'm referring to my mother's passing, which happened, she got a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer about a week after that experience.