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Meaghan Buisson

Meaghan Buisson is a Canadian world record-holding former competitive inline and ice speed-skater as well as mental health advocate, researcher, writer, and speaker.

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Meaghan Buisson
Born~1979 or 1980 (age 46–47)1
Alma materThompson Rivers University (BSc);234 University of Victoria (MSc—in-progress)526
OccupationsFormer inline and ice speed-skater, ultrarunner, mental health advocate, researcher, writer, and speaker
Years active1999–present
Organization(s)BodyWhys Youth Canada (founder and director)784
Known forCompetitive speed skating, mental health advocacy and writing, and work against MDMA-assisted therapy
Websiteweb.archive.org/web/20210619234744/https://www.meaghanbuisson.com/
web.archive.org/web/20130603002607/https://www.getwhys.ca/

Meaghan Buisson is a Canadian world record-holding former competitive inline and ice speed-skater as well as mental health advocate, researcher, writer, and speaker.19107112

Speed skating and mental health advocacy

In inline speed skating, Buisson is a 47-time Canadian national champion, 16-time Canadian record holder, 11-time international medalist, and the current world record holder in the solo marathon.7912 She is said to have been one of Canada's top inline skaters and broke the world record in inline speed skating in the solo marathon in 2006.171314 Subsequently, Buisson became a competitive ice speed-skater and set a provincial record in this sport.11 She competed in speed skating from 1999 until 2010.11715 Buisson once received a traffic ticket for speeding—on skates—which received significant news coverage.1216 After competitive skating, Buisson also became an ultrarunner and trained for races.7 She was featured in the 2007 book The 10 Most Inspiring Canadians by Kathryn Whitfield.17

Buisson retired from skating due to serious injuries as well as personal trauma related to sexual abuse and assault that she had experienced.1811719 Earlier in her life, Buisson studied to become a veterinarian, but was unable to complete her program.71216 After retiring from speed skating, Buisson worked as a hiking and wilderness guide.202122 She has spoken publicly regarding her lived experiences of severe injury, mental health struggles, sexual abuse, homelessness, and poverty.11221023121624 This included being a contributing writer for Mad in America and writing critically about traditional psychiatric drugs and her lived experiences of iatrogenic harm with them.10162425262 She also did an honors thesis at Thompson Rivers University critiquing clinical trial methodology of psychiatric drugs.122 Buisson was the founder and director of BodyWhys Youth Canada, a Canadian mental health charity.784

MDMA-assisted therapy trial

In 2013, Gabor Maté referred Buisson for a clinical trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for management of treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).10 In December 2014, she enrolled in the study, one of the phase 2 trials of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD being conducted by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and Lykos Therapeutics (now Resilient Pharmaceuticals).10912 Buisson was treated by a married couple and renowned psychedelic-assisted psychotherapist pair named Donna Dryer and Richard Yensen, who are said to have been leading the trial or trial site, and Buisson was the first patient of a planned twelve but eventual six to be treated.1024231227 Dryer was a licensed psychiatrist, while Yensen's psychologist license had lapsed in 2009, with MAPS requiring only one of two people per team be licensed.10

Buisson wrote and spoke positively about her experiences with MDMA-assisted therapy in October 2016.910281224 However, in November 2018, she filed a complaint and civil lawsuit alleging misconduct by the couple and sexual abuse by Yensen.10292191 This included inappropriate physical contact such as cuddling and spooning during psychotherapy sessions in which she was under the influence of MDMA, the couple bringing Buisson to live near or with them on Cortes Island, British Columbia for further therapy, and Yensen having sex with her under the guise of it being exposure therapy for her PTSD.30223129213212 Buisson has said that Yensen also administered her drugs like ketamine during therapy sessions outside of the trial and pursued sex with her while she was intoxicated.3127 A publicly released video recording documented repeated inappropriate physical contact during the trial sessions and Yensen admitted to the sexual relationship but claimed that it was consensual.28101312112 Buisson completed her final active dosing session in the trial in October 2015, remained enrolled in the trial until her final follow-up in June 2016, and lived on Cortes Island from June 2015 until May 2017, with the sexual relationship beginning around the end of 2015 or start of 2016 while she was still in the trial.103391234

Canadian professional organizations and legal standards state that clients cannot consent to sex with therapists and bar therapists from having sex with clients for at least two years after treatment has ended, with transgressions considered to constitute sexual abuse and resulting in licensing revocation.1027 However, as Yensen was unlicensed, he was not formally bound to these rules and had no license to be stripped of.10 Nonetheless, MAPS themselves and others have contradicted Yensen and referred to his actions as "sexual abuse" or "sexual misconduct".353623 Buisson's lawsuit alleged repeated sexual assault by Yensen and the case was settled out of court in June 2019.103022 The Yensens have been unrepentant and have blamed Buisson for the events or have declined to comment.1033379 Police recommended criminal charges against Yensen, but prosecutors declined to pursue them, with their prosecutory standards requiring a "substantial likelihood of conviction".21283839 Dryer also gave up her medical license.293340 Among other amends, MAPS cut ties with the Yensens following the incident, citing serious ethical violations, and provided Buisson with around CA$15,000 (US$11,570) for psychotherapy, but with the stipulation that she waive her right to sue them.1038302128221235 MAPS's responses to the events have been criticized as inadequate, for instance declining to require both therapists in sessions to be licensed.10

New York Magazine and Psymposia published an investigative podcast called Cover Story: Power Trip in 2022 which featured Buisson and her damaging experiences with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy.383123112 Buisson has co-authored critical academic articles on safety and harms of psychedelic-assisted therapy with researchers such as Sarah McNamee and Neşe Devenot, the latter of Psymposia.204142 In April 2024, Buisson, with Devenot and others, filed a citizen's petition to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting that the advisory committee meeting on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy feature an extended public hearing.304344 This was granted, and in June 2024, Devenot and others publicly testified at the hearing and a written statement by Buisson was read.30384546 The advisory committee overwhelmingly voted for the FDA to reject MAPS and Lykos Therapeutics's New Drug Application (NDA) of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of PTSD, citing methodological and safety concerns, as well as most of the panelists mentioning Buisson and Psymposia's statements.3038 In August 2024, the FDA declined to approve the therapy.47303823 The exact extent to which Buisson's case and Psymposia may have contributed to the rejection is unclear.3038

Subsequent life

As of 2026, Buisson is completing her master's degree researching service dogs at the University of Victoria.526

Selected publications

References

References

  1. Rosin, Hanna (22 March 2022). "You Won't Feel High After Watching This Video". The Cut. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  2. "Buisson, Meaghan – Women's Health Research Institute". Women's Health Research Institute. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  3. Buisson, Meaghan (April 2011). "The Open Standard: Newsletter of the Open Learning Division of Thompson Rivers University: On a Roll TRU e story" (PDF). Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning. pp. 11–11.
  4. "2015 Trauma Conference". Eventzilla. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  5. Barkley, Ethan (29 May 2026). "Grad student facing eviction from family housing after her service dog recorded as child". Martlet. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  6. "Meaghan Buisson". Disabled Leaders Network. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  7. Williams, Carlesa (2013). "Meaghan Buisson – Canadian Inline Speed Skating Champion". about.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  8. "Meaghan Buisson, BodyWhys, interview at 2012 Brett Wilson's Garden Party". YouTube. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  9. Edwards, Bob (31 March 2021). "Meaghan Buisson Alleges Sexual Abuse During Psychedelic Therapy Trials". psychedelicobserver.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  10. Goldhill, Olivia (3 March 2020). "Psychedelic therapy has a sexual abuse problem". Quartz. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  11. Prest, Ashley (28 May 2009). "May 2009: In-line speedster gloats over goat". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  12. Lily Kay Ross and David Nickles (30 November 2021 – 22 March 2022). "Cover Story: Power Trip (Season 1)" (Podcast). Cover Story. Meaghan Buisson (interviewee in multiple episodes). New York Magazine, Psymposia.
  13. Planet Staff (6 July 2006). "Canadian Woman Prepares for World Record Attempt". Inline Planet Skate News. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  14. Planet Staff (8 July 2006). "Buisson Sets New World Record for Solo Marathon". Inline Planet. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  15. Crête, Mylène (31 August 2001). "Vitesse Vertigineuse". La Liberté (in French). Winnipeg. pp. 15–15.
  16. Buisson, Meaghan (10 November 2014). "Contesting the Chemical Cure". Mad In America. Archived from the original on 16 November 2014.
  17. Whitfield, Kathryn L. (2007). The 10 Most Inspiring Canadians. Rubicon Publishing, Incorporated. ISBN 978-1-55448-258-0. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  18. Hu, Jane C. (10 February 2023). "This Week in Psychedelics: Shrooms for sale in British Columbia, disturbing MAPS MDMA trial footage released, and treating eating disorders with MDMA". Substack. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  19. Ali, Anwar (19 August 2016). "Hell on Wheels". The Walrus. Another is Meaghan Buisson, a former in-line marathon world record holder and the first Canadian to win a World Inline Cup title, whose promising speed skating career ended in injury. [...] Buisson, at one point homeless as she pursued her ambitions, eventually found sponsorship on her own.
  20. Kase, Holly (1 May 2024). "Psychedelic Sherpas: Can ketamine clinics serve as a model for psychedelic-assisted therapy?". Shoeleather Magazine.
  21. Lindsay, Bethany (29 March 2022). "Footage of therapists spooning and pinning down patient in B.C. trial for MDMA therapy prompts review". CBC. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  22. Lindsay, Bethany (18 March 2021). "As psychedelic therapy goes mainstream, former patient warns of danger of sexual abuse". CBC. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  23. Halpern, Luke; Hippensteele, Alana (12 March 2025). "MDMA Rejected: The Story of a Study Participant Entrenched in Ethical Violations". Pharmacy Times. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  24. Buisson, Meaghan (7 October 2016). "Psychedelic Series #1: Over the Mountain". Mad In America. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016.
  25. "Writers Page". Mad In America. Meaghan Buisson [meaghanbuisson.com] The Alchemy of Trauma: A wilderness guide, speaker and writer, Meaghan leads journeys of discovery through wild spaces and medical realms. She studied veterinary medicine, then completed a degree in Life Sciences with a capstone examining psychiatric drug use. Meaghan is a 47-time national champion and world record holder in the sport of inline speed skating.
  26. Buisson, Meaghan (8 October 2016). "Meaghan Buisson, Author at Mad In America". Mad In America. Archived from the original on 2016-10-08. Meaghan Buisson. The Alchemy of Trauma: Meaghan's decade with the Canadian Inline Speed Skating national team led to a world record and a passion for exploring new realms. Weaving kaleidoscopic knowledge, first-hand experience and evidence-based medical research, Meaghan writes about trauma and recovery. [...]
  27. Chris Aiken (10 June 2024). "MDMA: What Went Wrong Part 1". The Carlat Psychiatry Podcast (Podcast). Carlat Publishing.
  28. Busby, Mattha (20 June 2022). "MDMA trials under review in Canada over alleged abuse of study participants". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  29. Harrison TR, Faber SC, Zare M, Fontaine M, Williams MT (January 2025). "Wolves Among Sheep: Sexual Violations in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy" (PDF). Am J Bioeth. 25 (1): 40–55. doi:10.1080/15265161.2024.2433423. PMID 39804304.
  30. Jacobs, Andrew; Nuwer, Rachel (4 February 2025). "How a Leftist Activist Group Helped Torpedo a Psychedelic Therapy". The New York Times.
  31. Worthington, Elise; Taylor, Kyle; King, Tynan (25 July 2022). "Meaghan thought psychedelic therapy could help her PTSD. Instead it was the start of a nightmare". ABC News. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  32. Jacobs, Andrew (12 August 2024). "Three MDMA Studies Are Retracted by Scientific Journal". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  33. Greenstien, Kayla; Hall, Will (18 December 2024). "Set, Setting, Forgetting: Silence on Abuse in Psychedelic Therapy Histories". Mad In America. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  34. Buller, Kyle; Mithoefer, Annie; Mithoefer, Michael (28 January 2022). PT288 – Annie & Michael Mithoefer – Vital Psychedelic Conversations. Psychedelics Today. Psychedelics Today. As a lot of listeners probably know we had an ethical serious sexual ethical boundary violation by one of the therapists in Vancouver during the phase two trials. Uh it didn't happen until after the active part of the study but the person still hadn't finished the final measures and that was you know there was a situation where Richard Yensen was working with his wife who's a psychiatrist and it still happened you know not during the MDMA sessions [...] Video.
  35. "Statement: Public Announcement of Ethical Violation by Former MAPS-Sponsored Investigators – Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies – MAPS". Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies – MAPS – Psychedelic Research for Psychological Healing. 24 May 2019. Yensen and former sub-investigator Donna Dryer verbally confirmed that Yensen engaged in a sexual relationship with the participant. Sexual contact between therapy providers and participants is unethical conduct of sexual abuse in violation of Section 6 of MAPS Code of Ethics for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and generally accepted standards of care.
  36. Stone, Will (4 June 2024). "FDA advisers reject MDMA therapy for PTSD, amid concerns over research". Connecticut Public. "Let's try to not gloss over this misconduct. It was sexual misconduct. That's particularly important," said Joniak-Grant, a sociologist and a member of the [FDA advisory committee] panel.
  37. Wolfson, Phil (17 July 2024). "A Therapist Responds to the MDMA Imbroglio". Lucid News - Psychedelics.
  38. Semley, John (29 July 2025). "Psychedelic Therapy Crashed and Burned. MAHA Might Bring It Back". WIRED. Like Doblin, Lubecky was optimistic that the treatment would get approved. But during the proceedings, a statement was entered into the record on behalf of a woman named Meaghan Buisson. In 2014, Buisson was recruited into a Phase 2 clinical trial run by MAPS. While under the influence of MDMA, she said, she had been "blindfolded, gagged, pinned, cuddled, and caressed" by the therapists, a married couple. She had attempted suicide afterward, she said; a doctor later told her she had effectively been "drugged, raped, blamed, and held as a sex slave." [...] In 2021, Psymposia and New York magazine coproduced an investigative podcast called Cover Story: Power Trip. One of its most damning episodes was deeply critical of MAPS and featured Meaghan Buisson—the woman whose story of assault came up in the FDA hearings.
  39. Browne, Grace (6 April 2023). "The Therapy Part of Psychedelic Therapy Is a Mess". WIRED. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  40. Lindsay, Bethany (16 October 2023). "B.C. psychiatrist resigns licence after patient complains of abuse during psychedelic therapy study". CBC. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  41. Devenot, Neşe; Tumilty, Emma; Buisson, Meaghan; McNamee, Sarah; Nickles, David; Ross, Lily Kay (9 March 2022). "A Precautionary Approach to Touch in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy". Petrie-Flom Center: Bill of Health.
  42. McNamee S, Devenot N, Buisson M (May 2023). "Studying Harms Is Key to Improving Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy-Participants Call for Changes to Research Landscape". JAMA Psychiatry. 80 (5): 411–412. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.0099. PMID 36988924.
  43. Silman, Anna (13 May 2024). "MDMA therapy could be legal by summer. Why are so many advocates sounding the alarm?". Business Insider. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  44. Devenot, Neşe; Buisson, Meaghan; Jaster, Alaina M.; Greenstien, Kayla; Pace, Brian (28 April 2024). "Citizen Petition to Convene an Advisory Committee Meeting on MDMA-Assisted Therapy With an Extended Open Public Hearing" (PDF). Regulations.gov. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
  45. Psychedelics Today (24 June 2024). "What is MDMA's FDA Approval Status? A Look Ahead". Psychedelics Today. A harrowing public comment on the matter came from Speaker 26, Sarah Grosh, who spoke as a proxy for Phase 2 participant Meaghan Buisson. In Buisson's words, Grosh described the abuse that took place. Buisson's descriptions of the assaults she suffered in session were recorded and are now publicly available.
  46. Buisson, Meaghan (4 June 2024). [Public comment statement] (Speech). Meeting of the Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee. Statement read by Sarah Grosh. Silver Spring, Maryland: U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2026.
  47. Stone, Will (9 August 2024). "FDA gives thumbs down to MDMA for now, demanding further research". NPR. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
External links