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Key TakeawaysPsychedelic therapy could help treat alcohol use disorder, new research suggests.Researchers found that taking psilocybin, the compound found in psychedelic mushrooms, could help reduce heavy drinking.Previous research has found that psilocybin therapy could help people with addiction disorders as well as depression and anxiety.

Key Takeaways

Psychedelic therapy could help treat alcohol use disorder, new research suggests.Researchers found that taking psilocybin, the compound found in psychedelic mushrooms, could help reduce heavy drinking.Previous research has found that psilocybin therapy could help people with addiction disorders as well as depression and anxiety.

A new study suggests that psychedelic drug therapy may help in treatingalcohol use disorder.

David Golding, recovery coach and founder of Sober Lifestyle Coaching LLCThe recent trial, although positive, would have to be compared to decades of success for millions of alcoholics who have entirely recovered using an abstinence program such as AA.

David Golding, recovery coach and founder of Sober Lifestyle Coaching LLC

The recent trial, although positive, would have to be compared to decades of success for millions of alcoholics who have entirely recovered using an abstinence program such as AA.

“Our findings strongly suggest that psilocybin therapy is a promising means of treating alcohol use disorder, a complex disease that has proven notoriously difficult to manage,” said Michael Bogenschutz, MD, director of the NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine and senior author of the study in apress release.

Discussing the study,David Nutt, DM, the Edmond J. Safra Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology and director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit in the Division of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London, describes it as “an important follow-up to Bogenshutz’s previous open-label study with psilocybin.

“In the present study, they use a stronger randomized controlled trial design with active placebo and confirm the efficacy of psilocybin treatment in what is a difficult to treat disorder – a landmark piece of research,” he continues.

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As well as Dr. Bogenschutz’s previous research on psilocybin and alcohol use disorder, other studies have suggested that psilocybin treatment could be used to help treat anxiety anddepressionin people with cancer, and research aroundpsilocybin treatmentfor tobacco dependency has also been carried out.Another study found that adults who had used psilocybin at some time in their life were 30% less likely to haveopioid use disorder.

David Golding, recovery coach and founder ofSober Lifestyle Coaching LLC, explains that “these are early days for the use of psychoactive medicines in treating depression, anxiety, and even alcohol use disorder,” but that research around psychedelic substances like psilocybin has been around for a long time.

Trials were halted over half a century ago due to legislation brought in under the presidencies of Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon. However, in the last 30 years, there’s been something of a revival in terms of human psychedelic research.

“It is thought that the use of psychedelics somehow ‘resets’ the brain, via the impact onserotoninreceptors in the brain,” explains Golding. “Serotonin is considered a natural mood regulator, and mental health conditions such as depression also have their roots directly in the areas of the brain involved in the uptake of serotonin.”

“Although the mechanism is not fully understood, there is ample evidence to suggest that psychedelics have a positive impact on the action of serotonin in the brain.”

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Considering the Future of Psychedelics in Rehab and Recovery

While there’s certainly potential in terms of psychedelic therapy, “the recent trial, although positive, would have to be compared to decades of success for millions of alcoholics who have entirely recovered using an abstinence program such as AA”, explains Golding. “The reduction in the percentage of heavy drinking days is not a measure of abstinence nor recovery.”

There may well be a place for psychedelic therapy in addiction treatment, but there are obstacles. More research is needed, and if psilocybin treatment is to become more widespread, its legal status would need to change more widely.

That said, there’s definitely potential there. “A combination of clinical psychology, psilocybin, and meetings in the rooms of AA could be the best recipe?” suggests Golding. “Time will only tell."

What This Means For YouPsychedelic therapy is just one potential treatment for addiction. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

What This Means For You

Psychedelic therapy is just one potential treatment for addiction. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Psychedelic therapy is just one potential treatment for addiction. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

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7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bogenschutz MP, Ross S, Bhatt S, et al.Percentage of heavy drinking days following psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy vs placebo in the treatment of adult patients with alcohol use disorder.JAMA Psychiatry. 2022. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.2096Ross S, Bossis A, Guss J, et al.Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized controlled trial.J Psychopharmacol. 2016;30(12):1165-1180. doi:10.1177/0269881116675512Johnson MW, Garcia-Romeu A, Cosimano MP, Griffiths RR.Pilot study of the 5-HT 2A R agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction.J Psychopharmacol. 2014;28(11):983-992. doi:10.1177/0269881114548296Jones G, Ricard JA, Lipson J, Nock MK.Associations between classic psychedelics and opioid use disorder in a nationally-representative U.S. adult sample.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):4099. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-08085-4Carhart-Harris RL, Goodwin GM.The therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs: Past, present, and future.Neuropsychopharmacol. 2017;42(11):2105-2113. doi:10.1038/npp.2017.84Drug Enforcement Administration.The Controlled Substances Act.Roberts A.An overview of decriminalization efforts in regard to psychedelic plants in the United States, 2019-2020.DEPC Student Paper Series.The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bogenschutz MP, Ross S, Bhatt S, et al.Percentage of heavy drinking days following psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy vs placebo in the treatment of adult patients with alcohol use disorder.JAMA Psychiatry. 2022. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.2096Ross S, Bossis A, Guss J, et al.Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized controlled trial.J Psychopharmacol. 2016;30(12):1165-1180. doi:10.1177/0269881116675512Johnson MW, Garcia-Romeu A, Cosimano MP, Griffiths RR.Pilot study of the 5-HT 2A R agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction.J Psychopharmacol. 2014;28(11):983-992. doi:10.1177/0269881114548296Jones G, Ricard JA, Lipson J, Nock MK.Associations between classic psychedelics and opioid use disorder in a nationally-representative U.S. adult sample.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):4099. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-08085-4Carhart-Harris RL, Goodwin GM.The therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs: Past, present, and future.Neuropsychopharmacol. 2017;42(11):2105-2113. doi:10.1038/npp.2017.84Drug Enforcement Administration.The Controlled Substances Act.Roberts A.An overview of decriminalization efforts in regard to psychedelic plants in the United States, 2019-2020.DEPC Student Paper Series.The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Bogenschutz MP, Ross S, Bhatt S, et al.Percentage of heavy drinking days following psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy vs placebo in the treatment of adult patients with alcohol use disorder.JAMA Psychiatry. 2022. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.2096Ross S, Bossis A, Guss J, et al.Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized controlled trial.J Psychopharmacol. 2016;30(12):1165-1180. doi:10.1177/0269881116675512Johnson MW, Garcia-Romeu A, Cosimano MP, Griffiths RR.Pilot study of the 5-HT 2A R agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction.J Psychopharmacol. 2014;28(11):983-992. doi:10.1177/0269881114548296Jones G, Ricard JA, Lipson J, Nock MK.Associations between classic psychedelics and opioid use disorder in a nationally-representative U.S. adult sample.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):4099. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-08085-4Carhart-Harris RL, Goodwin GM.The therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs: Past, present, and future.Neuropsychopharmacol. 2017;42(11):2105-2113. doi:10.1038/npp.2017.84Drug Enforcement Administration.The Controlled Substances Act.Roberts A.An overview of decriminalization efforts in regard to psychedelic plants in the United States, 2019-2020.DEPC Student Paper Series.The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

Bogenschutz MP, Ross S, Bhatt S, et al.Percentage of heavy drinking days following psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy vs placebo in the treatment of adult patients with alcohol use disorder.JAMA Psychiatry. 2022. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.2096

Ross S, Bossis A, Guss J, et al.Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized controlled trial.J Psychopharmacol. 2016;30(12):1165-1180. doi:10.1177/0269881116675512

Johnson MW, Garcia-Romeu A, Cosimano MP, Griffiths RR.Pilot study of the 5-HT 2A R agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction.J Psychopharmacol. 2014;28(11):983-992. doi:10.1177/0269881114548296

Jones G, Ricard JA, Lipson J, Nock MK.Associations between classic psychedelics and opioid use disorder in a nationally-representative U.S. adult sample.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):4099. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-08085-4

Carhart-Harris RL, Goodwin GM.The therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs: Past, present, and future.Neuropsychopharmacol. 2017;42(11):2105-2113. doi:10.1038/npp.2017.84

Drug Enforcement Administration.The Controlled Substances Act.

Roberts A.An overview of decriminalization efforts in regard to psychedelic plants in the United States, 2019-2020.DEPC Student Paper Series.The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

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