Carolinas for Care is reimagining health care in North and
South Carolina by advancing safe, evidence-based access to
psychedelic-assisted therapies.
We are a nonpartisan coalition of veterans, clinicians, researchers,
and community leaders dedicated to advancing safe, evidence-based access to psychedelic-assisted therapies.
We are a nonpartisan coalition of veterans, clinicians, researchers,
and community leaders dedicated to advancing safe, evidence-based
access to psychedelic-assisted therapies.
Carolinas for Care is reimagining health care in North and South Carolina by advancing safe, evidence-based access to psychedelic-assisted therapies.
To expand access to lifesaving, innovative treatment options. Help North and South Carolina continue to lead with compassion, science, and evidence.
Carolinas for Care, launched in 2022, is an organization of veterans, clinicians, researchers, and community leaders working to expand safe, evidence-based access to psychedelic-assisted therapies across North and South Carolina. Originally formed as the North Carolina Psychedelic Policy Coalition, the organization grew into a regional network in response to the escalating mental health crisis and the increasing body of research supporting innovative treatments for PTSD, depression, chronic pain, and other trauma-related conditions. Led by founder Gina Giorgio, whose work is deeply informed by her family’s connection to military service, Carolinas for Care is committed to building a future where healing-centered care is a right.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is a clinical approach that combines substances like MDMA or psilocybin with guided psychotherapy, typically administered in a controlled, medical setting by licensed providers. This approach shows significant promise for individuals who have not responded to traditional treatments, particularly those living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder.
In North Carolina, roughly 1 in 4 adults report symptoms of anxiety or depression, yet over one-fifth of those individuals are unable to access the counseling they need. South Carolina faces similar challenges, with about 23% of adults experiencing a mental illness in the past year and a suicide rate that exceeds the national average. Both states also face severe provider shortages, particularly in rural areas, where many counties lack adequate mental health professionals.
Recognizing this gap, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD and psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression. This designation is reserved for treatments that show substantial improvement over existing options in early clinical trials and is intended to accelerate development for therapies that may address serious, unmet medical needs.
As the mental health crisis continues to deepen across the Carolinas, expanding access to innovative, evidence-based approaches is not just promising—it is a necessity.
In 2023, Carolinas For Care helped introduce HB 727, the Breakthrough Therapies Research and Advisory Act, a bipartisan bill focused on supporting clinical research into MDMA- and psilocybin-assisted therapy. The bill proposed two competitive research grants totaling $5.4 million, with a focus on:
- MDMA: Treatment of PTSD in veterans, first responders, frontline healthcare workers and survivors of domestic violence
- Psilocybin: Treatment of depression and anxiety disorders
HB 727 passed the House Health Committee unanimously.
Innovative Treatments for Mental Health Act
This session, Carolinas For Care is supporting SB 568, a bipartisan bill to establish The North Carolina Mental Health and Psychedelic Medicine Task Force. The purpose of the Task Force is to: Assess the potential use of psychedelic medicine in addressing the State’s ongoing mental health crisis; Consider barriers to implementation and access; Consider and recommend licensing and insurance requirements for practitioners in the State if psychedelic medicines are federally reclassified and approved by the United States FDA; and Consider legal and regulatory pathways to the legalization of psychedelic medicines in the State and the potential effects of the medicines on public health. Establishing this Task Force in partnership with the regulatory framework in North Carolina is essential to providing access to innovative, life-saving treatments.
We’re not waiting for change—we’re building it. We’ve come together to reimagine what care can look like. Now we’re asking others to join the movement.
