Ketamine Therapy in New York

New York follows federal regulations governing the use of ketamine in clinical settings, as ketamine remains a Schedule III controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Clinics operating in New York must comply with both federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) requirements and state-level oversight provided by the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Education Department's Office of the Professions. Physicians administering ketamine must hold a valid DEA registration, maintain proper controlled substance records, and operate within the scope of their licensed medical practice. Nurse practitioners and other advanced practice providers may be involved in treatment delivery but must do so within the bounds of their collaborative agreements and state licensing requirements.

For intravenous ketamine infusions, which represent the most common form of treatment offered at ketamine clinics, the drug is used off-label for conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, chronic pain, and anxiety disorders. Because this off-label use is not specifically regulated by a dedicated state statute, clinics operate under general medical practice standards and are subject to oversight through the standard physician licensing and disciplinary framework. The New York State Board for Professional Medical Conduct has authority to investigate complaints and take action against providers who fail to meet the accepted standard of care.

With the emergence of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and esketamine (Spravato), additional regulatory layers apply. Spravato, the FDA-approved intranasal esketamine product, must be administered under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program, requiring patients to receive the medication in a certified healthcare setting and be monitored for at least two hours post-dose. New York clinics offering this treatment must register as certified treatment centers under the REMS program. Patients and providers alike are encouraged to verify that any clinic they work with maintains appropriate licensure, follows evidence-based protocols, conducts thorough medical screenings, and adheres to informed consent requirements consistent with New York medical practice standards.