When a veteran reaches out for help, that moment should be met with hope and clarity, not uncertainty.

We are entering a new era in mental health treatment. Promising scientific innovations are offering renewed hope to patients who have not found relief through traditional medications. Breakthrough therapies involving substances such as psilocybin, LSD and MDMA are currently undergoing rigorous clinical trials and scientific review. As these treatments advance through the federal approval process, New York has an opportunity to ensure our regulatory framework is ready to provide access from day one.

In my role working with veterans and military families across Western New York, I meet men and women who returned home carrying invisible wounds. Post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety and trauma often follow them long after their service ends. Many have done everything asked of them, trying multiple medications, committing to counseling and staying engaged in treatment. While these approaches help many people, too many others are left continuing the search for something that truly works.

Fortunately, new possibilities are emerging, therapies that may help heal the unseen scars affecting so many. These treatments are currently undergoing the federal approval process, where they must meet rigorous standards for safety and effectiveness. But scientific progress alone does not guarantee access.

NY must respond to mental health treatment developments

When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves a new mental health treatment and the Drug Enforcement Administration adjusts its classification, New York should have a clear and predictable pathway to align with those federal decisions. Establishing defined timelines for that alignment would ensure that when federally authorized therapies become available, our state is ready to integrate them into patient care without delay or confusion.

New York has made meaningful investments in mental health services in recent years, and that leadership matters. But as innovation accelerates, our state's regulatory framework must remain modern, transparent and responsive to scientific advancement.

Nearly one in four adults in the U.S. lives with a mental health condition. Up to 60% of psychiatric patients experience treatment resistance, meaning traditional medications simply do not work for them. Among veterans, the challenges can be even more severe. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that between 11-20% of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan experience PTSD in a given year. Nationally, veterans are more than 50% more likely to die by suicide than their civilian peers.

New York is home to more than 800,000 veterans, making New York State the sixth largest veteran population state in the U.S. When they struggle, their families struggle alongside them. Spouses, children, and loved ones carry that weight as well. As new science offers additional tools to support healing, our regulatory system should reflect the same sense of urgency and commitment.

This issue is particularly important in upstate communities like Western New York, where access to specialized providers can already be stretched. As new treatments emerge, healthcare providers across the state will need clear guidance on how and when federally approved therapies can be incorporated into care.

Modernizing New York's approval process is not about rushing science, it is about ensuring our state system is coordinated, transparent, and prepared. Federal regulators spend years conducting extensive safety and effectiveness reviews before authorizing new treatments. When those breakthroughs arrive, New York should be ready.

Clear statutory timelines and a transparent alignment process would allow hospitals, clinics, and community-based organizations to plan ahead, train staff, and communicate confidently with patients. At a time when our state is investing heavily in life sciences and medical research, our regulatory structure should complement those ambitions, not lag behind them.

For veterans, progress in mental health treatment represents renewed possibilities. The men and women we work with every day are resilient and determined. They simply want the chance to benefit from the next generation of therapies as they become available. By ensuring our laws are prepared, New York can honor their service by demonstrating that when breakthroughs arrive, our state will be ready to deliver them.

As a state that prides itself on both innovation and compassion, New York should ensure its regulatory system keeps pace with medical progress. By acting proactively rather than reactively, lawmakers can create a framework that keeps our state competitive, coordinated, and focused on patient care.

For the men and women who have served our country, and for every New Yorker who may benefit from the next generation of mental health treatments, it is time to make the path to care clearer, faster, and more compassionate.Christopher Kreiger, Sr., is a retired military combat veteran who served his country and others in important security operations in Bosnia and Iraq. He is president and CEO and co-founder of WNYHeroes following his service alongside NATO and in the U.S. Army. He aims to ease the transition from combat to civilian life, and eliminate the hardships, stigma and complications that too many veterans continue to experience in America today.

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