The Food and Drug Administration has approved a large-scale study to see if prescription Ecstasy can help people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

According to the New York Times, research has shown Ecstasy causes the brain to release hormones that evoke feelings of trust, love and well-being while also muting fear and negative emotional memories in patients with PTSD.

Iraq War veteran Luis Duran, of Copiague, says the study holds hope for him and others.

"It's great and a major improvement in trying to find alleviation or help for veterans, as well as civilians with PTSD," says Duran. "The only thing that concerns me is the term Ecstasy...society frowns upon it."

Drug treatment expert Jeffrey Reynolds says there's potential for abuse of Ecstasy as treatment for PTSD, if adequate controls aren't in place.

"You want to make sure you're using it in a supervised, controlled way that includes traditional talk therapy as part of the treatment," says Reynolds.

The FDA approved research will involve 230 patients. If the trials are successful, Ecstasy could be available for patients as early as 2021.