Healing Advocacy Fund

In partnership with the Sheri Eckert Foundation and the National University of Natural Medicine, Synaptic Institute's Drs. Matthew and Olivia Hicks are conducting a research study to test the feasibility of treating low-income adults with depression using psilocybin-assisted group therapy. There is no cost to participants who will receive a $200 gift card for completing the study. To see if you or someone you know is eligible to participate, please visit them online: www.synaptic.care/research

More than 5,000 clients have found healing with Oregon’s state-regulated psilocybin therapy program in the year and a half since service centers opened their doors. Bill, a retired army captain, sought out Oregon’s program to gain first-hand experience in healing as he works to become a behavioral health professional to serve other veterans. This powerful new tool helped Bill seek deeper connections with his loved ones after trauma left him feeling detached and disconnected. Learn more about Oregon’s program by visiting our website: https://lnkd.in/gKFVqGZr

Join HAF staff at an upcoming webinar on Wednesday, October 9th from Noon - 1pm, for a preview of and community conversation about the Psilocybin Program Improvement bill, which is being submitted by the Healing Advocacy Fund for the 2025 Oregon Legislative session. After a year-long process engaging community members to develop recommendations, the Psilocybin Program Improvement bill includes legal protections for healthcare providers who discuss psilocybin therapy with patients; allows dual licensure to create a pathway for healthcare professions to more fully participate in the program; improves client confidentiality, and more. Register today: https://lnkd.in/g6ggyuku

From the Montrose Daily Press: While individuals in Colorado are already exploring this new frontier of psychedelic therapy, an official infrastructure to accommodate this terrain opened up by Prop 122 has yet to be unrolled. That’s coming in early 2025. But, the state moved a step closer to that rollout this summer, when core regulations surrounding the therapeutic use of psilocybin were established in early August. This is something policy makers, advocates and mental health professionals have been working towards since the voters approved the use of natural medicine. And while there’s more work to be done — these new regulations, for example, only apply to mushrooms and not the other natural medicines outlined in Prop 122 — this lays the groundwork for everything that will follow. It’s a pretty big deal. “Essentially, we have the full set of rules for natural medicine businesses, which includes cultivation, manufacture and testing of the mushrooms themselves. And then we also have rules for natural medicine facilitators, so those that will be providing the services at licensed healing centers,” explained Tasia Poinsatte, the Colorado director of Healing Advocacy Fund, or HAF. HAF has been an active participant in Colorado’s psychedelic therapy discussion, as it was in Oregon, the only other state to pursue this path, decriminalizing the use of natural medicines and establishing a therapeutic framework. Poinsatte sees Colorado’s journey as a natural part of this discussion’s evolution. “It’s all kind of stepping stones,” she said. “I believe that we've improved a lot on Oregon's program. We've had the opportunity to see what's working well and what could be changed. And I think other states are going to look to Colorado in a similar way. So, not necessarily just cut-and-pasting our program, but also recognizing that a lot of thought has gone into this.” [...] Read the full article to learn more about how Colorado is preparing for the launch of it's state-regulated natural medicines program, and how HAF has been working behind the scenes to help ensure the program's rules prioritize safety and set the program up for success! https://lnkd.in/gGSEcExV

Quick reMinder ( 😉 ) to comment with questions about Colorado's natural medicine program! We will try to answer them in the webinar and/or point you in the right direction

Earlier this month, HAF staff participated in the Oregon Psychedelics Research Symposium at Oregon State University (OSU). The effort was spearheaded by assistant professor, researcher, and OPS Advisory Board Member, Jessie Uehling, and a group of researchers at Oregon State University. The conference was aimed at identifying new cross-disciplinary research approaches that will inform the use, management and implications of psychedelics including psilocybin. In addition to diverse expertise from OSU faculty, partners included The University of Oregon, Oregon Health and Science University, Lane Community College, Portland State University, The Oregon Health Authority, OR Veterans Affairs, Oregon Psilocybin Services licensees, and several non-profits. We're so proud and excited to be a part of such a strong community dedicated to supporting, improving, and expanding access to psychedelic healing

Oregon’s state-regulated psilocybin therapy program can be a powerful tool to help behavioral health professionals improve the lives of their clients. The program is changing lives – helping clients heal from traumas that are sometimes decades old. One client, KC, shares how psilocybin therapy helped her heal from lifelong depression stemming from an abusive childhood. Learn more about Oregon’s program, and see KC's full story, by visiting our website: https://lnkd.in/gn-Sa8Y8

From Newsweek: "Millions of Americans struggling with depression could benefit from the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, new research suggests. However, approval of such treatments will depend on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Roughly one in 10 American adults suffer from a depressive illness each year, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, while one in four suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder. Previous research has suggested that psilocybin—the active ingredient in magic mushrooms—may offer effective relief against major depressive disorder symptoms, with a short, two-dose treatment course lasting for up to a year. [...] By combining data on depression prevalence—based on national surveys—with eligibility criteria for recent landmark clinical psychotherapy trials, the team determined that between 56 and 62 percent of those currently receiving treatment for depression—that is, 5.1 to 5.6 million Americans—could qualify for psilocybin therapy if it is approved." For those seeking healing, psilocybin therapy is already available in Oregon. You can learn more about Oregon's state-regulated program, which provides safe access to psilocybin therapy by visiting the Healing Advocacy Fund's website: https://lnkd.in/gn-Sa8Y8

Are you considering applying for a Colorado healing center license? Take a few minutes to complete our online survey, and inform our programming to support healing centers becoming operational in Colorado. This information will provide critical insights for HAF's advocacy efforts to encourage supportive local zoning regulations, and will help our team better plan for future trainings and resources. Please only complete this survey if you are interested in applying for a healing center license in Colorado. All responses will be kept confidential. https://lnkd.in/gDsc_xVv

In November 2022, Colorado voters approved Proposition 122, which allows regulated access for adults to natural psychedelic medicines that show promise in treating a variety of health conditions. The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) and the Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) developed rules to implement a statewide regulated psilocybin therapy program while gathering input from experts, stakeholders, and the public. The program allows adults to access psychedelic therapy under the supervision of trained facilitators at authorized locations, including licensed healing centers and healthcare facilities. The Healing Advocacy Fund has put together a summary of key program rules and regulations, which can be accessed online: https://lnkd.in/gjRfwqUY