Tripping up addiction: the use of psychedelic drugs in the treatment of problematic drug and alcohol use
This review (2017) looks at the (preliminary) evidence that we have of psychedelics in the treatment of addictions (AUD, SUD). Trials with psilocybin, ibogaine, ayahuasca, ketamine (etc) are showing positive results, but randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are badly needed.
Authors
- David Nutt
- Celia Morgan
- Will Lawn
Published
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs have been used as treatments in indigenous cultures for thousands of years. Yet, due to their legal status, there has been limited scientific research into the therapeutic potential of these compounds for psychiatric disorders. In the absence of other effective treatments however, researchers have begun again to systematically investigate such compounds and there is now evidence pointing to the use of psychedelic drugs in the treatment of addiction. In this review we focus on human evidence for the effectiveness of preparations used by indigenous cultures in the Amazon (ayahausca) and Africa (ibogaine) and worldwide (psilocybin), and more recently synthetised drugs such as the serotonergic hallucinogen LSD and the dissociative anaesthetic ketamine. Potential mechanisms explored are anti-depressant effects, changes in neuroplasticity and existential psychological effects of these drugs.
Research Summary of 'Tripping up addiction: the use of psychedelic drugs in the treatment of problematic drug and alcohol use'
Introduction
Morgan and colleagues frame the paper around the apparent paradox that illicit psychedelic drugs might be used to treat the very addictions for which they are often controlled. They note historical and contemporary interest in several compounds — lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, ibogaine, ayahuasca and ketamine — and argue that growing neurobiological understanding has renewed interest in their therapeutic potential for problematic alcohol and drug use. The review sets out to synthesise available clinical and observational evidence for these compounds in treating substance-use disorders, to discuss plausible mechanisms (including antidepressant effects, stimulation of neuroplasticity and profound subjective ‘‘mystical’’ experiences) and to highlight gaps in the evidence base, particularly the need for randomised controlled trials and careful safety evaluation.
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Study Details
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- Compounds
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- APA Citation
Morgan, C., McAndrew, A., Stevens, T., Nutt, D., & Lawn, W. (2017). Tripping up addiction: the use of psychedelic drugs in the treatment of problematic drug and alcohol use. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 13, 71-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2016.10.009
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Gent, E. M., Bryan, J. W., Cleary, M. A. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2024)
Tap, S. C. · Addiction Biology (2024)
Borkel, L. F., Rojas-Hernández, J., Henríquez-Hernández, L. A. et al. · Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology (2023)
Sjöstedt-Hughes, P. · Frontiers in Psychology (2023)
Calder, A. E., Hasler, G. · Neuropsychopharmacology (2022)
Vargas-Perez, H., Grieder, T. E., Van Der Kooy, D. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2022)
Podrebarac, S. K., O'donnell, K. C., Mennenga, S. E. et al. · Spirituality in Clinical Practice (2021)
Ezquerra-Romano, I. I., Lawn, W., Krupitsky, E. M. et al. · Neuropharmacology (2018)
Dorsen, C., Palamar, J., Shedlin, M. G. · Addiction Research and Theory (2018)
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