New Regional Coalition Debuts at June 16 Advocacy Day in Raleigh, Urging Lawmakers to Expand Safe, Evidence-Based Access to Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies Across the Carolinas
[PRESSWIRE] RALEIGH, N.C. – June 11, 2026 – A new regional coalition dedicated to transforming mental health care has officially launched: Carolinas for Care, an organization committed to expanding safe, evidence-based access to psychedelic-assisted therapies throughout North and South Carolina. Press remarks will be given by Representative Chesser (R), Representative Ager (D), Senator Brinson (R), and Senator Chitlik (D).
To mark its launch, Carolinas for Care will host an Advocacy Day and press conference on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at the North Carolina Legislative Building in Raleigh, calling on state legislators to pass Senate Bill 1018, The HEAL Act — landmark legislation that would accelerate research into breakthrough mental health treatments for veterans, first responders, and communities across the state.
Carolinas for Care emerges in response to the escalating mental health crisis impacting communities across the Carolinas and the growing scientific evidence supporting innovative therapies for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, depression, and trauma-related illnesses. The organization is driven by a shared belief that healing-centered care should be safe, equitable, and grounded in rigorous research.
“At a time when so many individuals and families are struggling with mental health challenges that traditional treatments have failed to address, we believe it is crucial to expand access to therapies that are showing promise,” said Gina Giorgio, Founder of Carolinas for Care. “Our work brings together lived experience, clinical expertise, and community advocacy to ensure that care is informed by science and delivered with compassion.”
The HEAL Act Advocacy Day
Tuesday’s Advocacy Day brings together a powerful coalition of organizations united by a commitment to veteran mental health and evidence-based care.
Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS) has been at the forefront of advocating for psychedelic-assisted therapies for veterans suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injury, supporting research and working to expand access to treatments that have transformed lives.
Reason for Hope brings community education and grassroots advocacy to the movement, working to reduce stigma and build public understanding of the science behind these emerging therapies.
The Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition (VMHLC) mobilizes veteran leaders and mental health professionals to shape policy at the state and federal level, ensuring that those with lived experience have a seat at the table.
Together with Carolinas for Care, these organizations represent the breadth of the movement calling on the North Carolina General Assembly to pass SB 1018 and invest in the mental health future our veterans and communities deserve.
“Veterans across the Carolinas deserve access to treatments that actually work,” said Logan Davidson, Legislative Director for Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions. “VETS has seen firsthand how psychedelic-assisted therapies can restore what PTSD and traumatic brain injury have taken from those who served, but too many of our veterans are still waiting. The HEAL Act gives North Carolina the tools to accelerate the research that can change that, and we’re proud to stand with Carolinas for Care in making that case to the General Assembly.”
About Carolinas for Care
Carolinas for Care was originally formed as the North Carolina Psychedelic Policy Coalition and has since grown into a regional force for change, uniting stakeholders from veterans’ communities, clinical practice, academic research, and civic leadership.
Carolinas for Care’s mission is to improve health outcomes by advancing psychedelic therapies through education, research, community building, and policy reform. The organization is committed to integrating these treatments into healthcare systems in a way that is safe, accessible, and patient-centered.
In North Carolina, the organization was instrumental in supporting the introduction and advancement of House Bill 727 (the Breakthrough Therapies Research/Advisory Act), a bipartisan measure that successfully cleared key committee stages and championed the creation of a state grant fund to support groundbreaking research into the therapeutic potential of psilocybin and MDMA, especially for veterans, first responders, and individuals coping with trauma and treatment-resistant mental health conditions.
Building on this momentum, the coalition has also backed Senate Bill 568 (the Innovative Treatments for Mental Health Act), a bipartisan proposal to establish a state task force to study and lay the groundwork for the safe, equitable implementation of psychedelic-assisted therapies.
Event Details
WHAT: The HEAL Act Advocacy Day and Press Conference, co-hosted by Carolinas for Care, Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions, Reason for Hope, and Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition
WHEN: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 | 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: North Carolina Legislative Building, 16 W. Jones St., Raleigh, NC 27601
For more information about Carolinas for Care, or to learn how to get involved or support the organization’s work, visit https://carolinasforcare.org.
About The HEAL Act (SB 1018)
North Carolinians suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, opioid use disorder, and other trauma-related conditions often have few effective treatment options. The populations hit hardest include veterans, first responders, frontline healthcare workers, and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Treatments such as ibogaine, MDMA, and psilocybin show significant early promise but cannot be used in clinical settings until they clear FDA approval processes. SB 1018 invests in accelerating that research here at home.
“Healing didn’t happen overnight. It took courage, preparation, integration, and a community of individuals that truly cared about me. But it gave me something I hadn’t felt in years: hope,” said Sally Roberts, former USA wrestler and special operations veteran. “Today, I show up differently in my relationships, my work, and my purpose. I believe everyone deserves access to safe, evidence-based treatment options. That’s why I support Senate Bill 1018. It is a thoughtful step toward preparing North Carolina for the future of mental health care.”
The bill does two things. First, it creates the Breakthrough Therapies Research (BTR) Grant Fund, appropriating $5 million in competitive grants to North Carolina academic institutions and federal medical research entities to conduct FDA-compliant clinical studies on psychedelic-assisted therapies.
Second, it establishes the Breakthrough Therapies Task Force, a cross-sector, bipartisan body including medical experts, tribal representatives, legislative members, and community advocates, to guide the grant process, monitor ongoing research, and report recommendations to the General Assembly.
SB 1018 does not decriminalize or legalize any substance. All research must comply with FDA protocols and applicable federal law.
North Carolina’s action aligns with growing national momentum. President Trump’s April 2026 Executive Order on Accelerating Medical Treatments for Serious Mental Illness directs federal agencies to explore evidence-based options, including psychedelic-assisted therapies.
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