Veterans under 30 who receive care through the Department of Veterans Affairs will have to sign a consent form before they can be prescribed an antidepressant, starting in 2027. The same signature requirement will apply to veterans of any age who are prescribed an opioid painkiller together with a benzodiazepine, a class of anti-anxiety and sleep drugs that includes alprazolam and diazepam. The VA announced the changes on September 28 in a department news release.
Nothing changes yet for veterans picking up prescriptions this fall. The VA said it will spend the rest of 2026 informing staff, training employees, and updating internal policy. The announcement is a department policy change, not a proposed regulation, and no Federal Register notice or public comment period has been posted.
