The United States is facing a growing behavioral health crisis. Now more than ever, novel, safe and effective treatments are needed. Over the past decade, clinical trials of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies (PAT) have shown promising results for treating a number of common behavioral health conditions with minimal adverse effects. This article provides a brief historical and sociopolitical context surrounding PAT, discusses unanswered questions related to the safety and quality of PAT, and charts a pathway forward through the complex policy, legal, and social barriers to uptake for the state of Missouri in its consideration of PAT as a behavioral health treatment. With careful consideration and proper infrastructure, PAT could represent a paradigm shift in how the field approaches the prevention, treatment, and potential recovery of behavioral health conditions. We outline how Missouri can be at the forefront of advancing the science and practice of PAT - cautiously.
Copyright 2024 by the Missouri State Medical Association.