Since the 1950s there have been anecdotal accounts of people with substance abuse issues, including with alcohol and opiates, finding relief through the use of psychedelics. Studies have shown that psychedelic-assisted therapy shows promise as an effective treatment for these disorders. LSD and psilocybin have been used in therapy and clinical research as a potential treatment for alcoholism. Ibogaine is regarded as being effective for helping people who suffer from opioid dependency, though clinical research is ongoing. The efficacy of psychedelics in treating substance abuse disorders occurs in the context of psychotherapy before, during, and after the psychedelic session.
Substance Use Disorders
Things to Know
- Research investigating LSD, psilocybin, ketamine, and MDMA have all shown promise in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy as a treatment for alcoholism
- Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has shown efficacy in treating substance abuse disorders with other substances, as well, such as opioids or tobacco
- Prior to becoming prohibited, LSD was used extensively in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy as a treatment for substance use disorder
LSD for Alcohol Use Disorder
Studies dating back to the 1950s and 1960s suggest that LSD may be effective in treating alcohol use disorder.
LSD for alcoholism.Psilocybin Mushrooms for Alcohol Use Disorder
Studies suggest that psilocybin can help reduce alcohol consumption by people with an alcohol use disorder.
Read about psilocybin for alcohol use disorder.Psilocybin Mushrooms for Smoking Cessation
Study suggest that psilocybin mushrooms have significant level of potential efficacy compared to traditional smoking cessation treatments—behavioral and pharmacological—which have success rates of less than 35 percent.
Read about psilocybin mushrooms for smoking cessation.Psilocybin Mushrooms for Opioid Use Disorder
While ongoing studies appear promising, it’s still too soon to draw conclusions about the efficacy of this treatment.
Read about psilocybin mushrooms for opioid use disorder.Ketamine for Substance Abuse Disorder
Studies suggest ketamine may be effective in treating substance use disorder with substances like alcohol, cocaine, and opioids.
Read about ketamine for substance use disorder.
