Story by Rebecca Spezzano, chscommunications@missouri.edu

Gregory Williams knows what it means to struggle — and how powerful the right kind of help can be. That’s why the first-year Master of Social Work student at Mizzou is advocating for psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) in Missouri, especially for veterans like himself. 

A U.S. Navy veteran who served from 2001 to 2008, Williams now works as a driver for the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in Columbia in addition to his MSW studies. He finds purpose in listening to fellow veterans share how their military service continues to shape their lives, even years later. 

“What I’m wanting to do with my degree is be a VA social worker and work with our veterans,” he said. 

After completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology through Troy University’s online program in 2013, Williams moved to Columbia to continue his career and education. His own military experience helped him navigate difficult periods in life, and he hopes to pay those lessons forward. 

“I’m taking that experience and looking at what was given to me and asking, ‘How can I give that back as well? How can I be of use to other people?’” he said. 

That drive led Williams to the Missouri State Capitol on March 4 for the National Association of Social Workers Missouri Chapter’s Legislative Education and Advocacy Day. There, he advocated for the legalization of PAT through Senate Bill 90, House Bill 829 and House Bill 951. 

“I think that there’s a lot of options on the table already, and I don’t want to detract from the from the effectiveness of those treatments,” Williams said. “But, you know, we can’t deny the fact that we still got veterans out there that are struggling, and not just veterans but the general public as well.” 

In 2022, Missouri’s veteran suicide rate per 100,000 was 7.9 percentage points higher than the national average for veterans, according to data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Williams believes PAT could be a critical tool in preventing such tragedies. 

“We can use [psychedelic-assisted therapy] and see if that might work, rather than the alternative, which is somebody struggling to the point of doing something that they can’t reverse,” he said. 

To raise awareness of PAT and build community interest, Williams and Mizzou School of Social Work faculty member Dani Adams started the Collaborative for Missouri Psychedelic Assisted Therapy. The initiative aims to make PAT more accessible across the state as well as gauge local support for the therapy. 

Currently, Oregon and Colorado are the only states where psilocybin, a psychedelic used for PAT, is legal for supervised use. As the national conversation around mental health and alternative therapies evolves, Williams would like to create space for PAT in Missouri. 

Through legislative advocacy and community outreach, he hopes to make these treatments more accessible to those who need them most — particularly his fellow veterans.