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Home/Research/LSD/Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

LSD for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

25 papers and 3 clinical trials exploring lsd as a treatment for alcohol use disorder (aud).

Compoundclassic psychedelic

LSD

LSD is a classic psychedelic ergoline with high potency at microgram doses and an 8-12 hour duration of action, mediated primarily via 5-HT2A receptor agonism. Modern Phase IIb data in generalised anxiety disorder and FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for MM120 have reignited clinical development.

Full LSD profile
IndicationOver 100 million cases worldwide, making AUD the most common substance use disorder.

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a prevalent condition characterised by an inability to control alcohol consumption despite adverse consequences. Emerging research indicates that psychedelics may offer promising therapeutic avenues for treating AUD, with various compounds showing potential in clinical trials.

Full Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) profile

Academic Research

25 papers
Paywallindividual

A qualitative analysis of participant expectations and experiences of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder

Participants in a pilot study of psilocybin‑assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder found the intervention acceptable and reported that confronting vividly challenging psychedelic experiences—described as “leaning into the obstacle”—fostered new self‑understandings and shifts in relationships that reduced the salience of methamphetamine. A strong therapeutic alliance, characterised by concentrated attention and intersubjective intimacy, was seen as critical to these positive changes.

Published
December 22, 2025
Journal
Addiction
Authors
Brett, J., Lea, T., Knock, E., Albert, S., Acheson, L., Siefried, K. J., Job, S.
Open Accessindividual

Psilocybin-assisted therapy for relapse prevention in alcohol use disorder: a phase 2 randomized clinical trial

This double-blind randomised clinical trial (n=37) found that a single dose of psilocybin (25mg) with brief psychotherapy did not significantly reduce alcohol relapse rates or consumption compared to placebo in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) at 4-week or 6-month follow-up, though psilocybin participants reported additional reductions in craving and temptation to drink, suggesting larger trials are needed to evaluate this approach for severely affected patients.

Published
April 1, 2025
Journal
EClinicalMedicine
Authors
Rieser, N. M., Bitar, R., Halm, S., Rossgoderer, C., Gubser, L. P., Thévenaz, M., Kreis, Y., Von Rotz, R., Nordt, C., Visentini, M., Moujaes, F., Engeli, E. J. E., Ort, A., Seifritz, E., Vollenweider, F. X., Herdener, M., Preller, K. H.
Paywallmeta

The impact of psychedelics on patients with alcohol use disorder: a systematic review with meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis (s=6; 2023) assessed the role of psychedelics in treating alcoholism (AUD). LSD and any psychedelic therapy showed enhanced odds of achieving abstinence or reducing alcohol consumption in randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. However, the study highlights methodological weaknesses in the literature. It suggests that while promising, definitive statements about the value of psychedelics in treating AUD are precluded, emphasizing the need for future trials with greater rigour.

Published
December 18, 2023
Journal
Current Medical Research and Opinion
Authors
Sicignano, D., Hernandez, A. V., Schiff, B., Elmahy, N., White, C. M.
Open Accessindividual

Nature-themed video intervention may improve cardiovascular safety of psilocybin-assisted therapy for alcohol use disorder

In a pilot randomised controlled trial of 20 participants with alcohol use disorder, viewing a nature-themed "Visual Healing" video during preparation and the ascent/descent phases of 25 mg psilocybin sessions was feasible, safe and well tolerated. Compared with standard procedures (eyeshades and music), Visual Healing significantly attenuated peak post‑psilocybin blood pressure increases while producing similar psychedelic effects and reductions in alcohol use.

Published
September 18, 2023
Journal
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Authors
Heinzerling, K. G., Sergi, K., Linton, M., Rich, R., Youssef, B., Bentancourt, I., Bramen, J., Siddarth, P., Schwartzberg, L., Kelly, D. F., Ahmed, S.
Open Accessindividual

Percentage of Heavy Drinking Days Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy vs Placebo in the Treatment of Adult Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder

In a double‑blind randomised clinical trial of adults with alcohol dependence receiving psychotherapy, two high‑dose psilocybin sessions reduced the percentage of heavy drinking days over 32 weeks to 9.7% versus 23.6% with active placebo (mean difference 13.9 percentage points; 95% CI 3.0–24.7; P = .01). Psilocybin was well tolerated with no serious adverse events, supporting further study of psilocybin‑assisted therapy for alcohol use disorder.

Published
October 1, 2022
Journal
JAMA Psychiatry
Authors
Bogenschutz, M. P., Ross, S., Bhatt, S. R., Baron, T., Forcehimes, A. A., Laska, E., Mennenga, S. E., O'Donnell, K., Owens, L. T., Podrebarac, S. K., Rotrosen, J., Worth, L.
Open Accessmeta

Classic psychedelics and alcohol use disorders: A systematic review of human and animal studies

This systematic review of 27 human and preclinical studies (2000–2021) finds that classic psychedelics—particularly psilocybin—show promising but inconclusive evidence for reducing alcohol consumption. Human studies are hampered by small samples and methodological limitations and preclinical data are scarce and mixed, so higher-quality trials are needed to establish efficacy and mechanisms.

Published
August 31, 2022
Journal
Addiction Biology
Authors
Calleja-Conde, J., Morales-García, J. A., Echeverry-Alzate, V., Bühler, K. M., Giné, E., López-Moreno, J.

Clinical Trials

3 trials
RecruitingPhase II

LSD Treatment for Persons With Alcohol Use Disorder (LYSTA)

Double-blind, randomised, active placebo-controlled parallel study (n=126) testing two LSD doses (150 µg; second session 150 or 250 µg) versus low-dose active placebo (10 µg) for alcohol use disorder.

Started
January 1, 2023
Type
interventional
Blinding
quadruple
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT05474989
CompletedPhase NA

A clinical study of LSD treatment in alcoholism

Randomized controlled three-year investigation comparing three LSD treatment conditions (hypnodelic, psychedelic, and drug-alone) against a milieu therapy control in 176 male alcoholic inpatients at Mendota State Hospital, Wisconsin. All groups improved significantly across all follow-up periods; no LSD condition outperformed the control.

Started
January 1, 1966
Type
interventional
Blinding
single
Randomized
Yes
Completed

Single Oral Lysergide (LSD 500 µg) in Inpatient Alcoholic Rehabilitation: Controlled Evaluation with Schizophrenic Sub-Analysis (Tomsovic & Edwards 1970)

This unregistered trial (n=75) was a partially randomised, placebo-controlled evaluation of a single 500 µg oral dose of LSD for alcohol use disorder in an inpatient rehabilitation setting, which found higher abstinence rates in non-schizophrenic participants at one year.

Started
January 1, 1966
Type
interventional
Blinding
single
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
TOMSOVIC-1970-QJSTUDIALCOHOL-LYSERGIDE-ALCOHOLICS

Explore further

Search all LSD papers Search all Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) trials Full LSD profile Full Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) profile