Over 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.

What is Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)?

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a medical condition that manifests as an impaired ability to control alcohol use, despite experiencing negative social, occupational, or health outcomes. Common terms associated with AUD include alcohol abuse, dependence, addiction, and alcoholism.

Symptoms of AUD range from mild to severe and may include intense cravings, continued drinking despite recognisable issues, and an inability to reduce consumption levels irrespective of the desire to do so.

Multiple factors contribute to the development of AUD, encompassing both internal (e.g., genetics, underlying mental health disorders) and external (e.g., social and cultural influences) variables. The disorder is associated with an increased vulnerability to various health conditions, including liver and cardiovascular diseases.

Comorbidities are common, with individuals diagnosed with AUD being nearly four times more likely to struggle with major depressive disorder and experiencing heightened anxiety.

Current Treatments

Treatment for AUD typically includes a combination of medically supervised detoxification, pharmacotherapy (with FDA-approved medications such as disulfiram, acamprosate, and naltrexone), and psychotherapeutic modalities, including cognitive behavioural therapy and support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous.

Psychedelic Effect Matrix

Systematic comparison of compound efficacy and evidence levels for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).

Compound	Magnitude	Evidence	Consistency
Psilocybin Clinical trials have consistently demonstrated significant reductions in heavy drinking days with psilocybin treatment.	Large	Moderate	Consistent
Ketamine Research indicates ketamine's efficacy in delaying relapse and promoting abstinence when paired with therapy.	Medium	Moderate	Consistent
MDMA Initial studies indicate potential benefits; however, further placebo-controlled trials are required.	Medium	Low	Inconsistent
Ayahuasca Reported anecdotal reports and survey studies suggest benefits, yet rigorous trials are lacking.	Small	Low	Inconsistent

Ketamine and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Ketamine acts primarily as an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist and has shown potential for treating AUD through its rapid antidepressant effects, which may reduce cravings. Clinical trials report decreased alcohol consumption and prolonged abstinence when ketamine treatments are integrated with therapy. Additionally, subjective experiences during treatment can create a sense of detachment, contributing to a reevaluation of one's relationship with alcohol.

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MDMA and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

MDMA may enhance emotional processing and facilitate therapeutic interactions, which can be particularly beneficial in addressing the underlying psychological issues associated with AUD. Clinical trials show that MDMA-assisted therapy can lead to significant reductions in alcohol consumption and AUD symptoms, suggesting it could be a viable adjunct to conventional treatment modalities.

View full MDMA profile →

Ayahuasca and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Ayahuasca has been reported to support healing and self-reflection, with anecdotal evidence and qualitative studies suggesting substantial improvements in drinking behaviours. Participants in ayahuasca ceremonies often report enhanced emotional awareness, which may assist in understanding and overcoming addiction patterns.

View full Ayahuasca profile →

Key Insights

1
Psychedelics like psilocybin and ketamine have shown efficacy in reducing heavy drinking and relapse rates in AUD patients.
2
Historical evidence from the 1950s indicates that compounds such as LSD were initially explored for alcoholism treatment, suggesting a long-standing interest in psychedelics for addiction.
3
Current trials indicate significant reductions in alcohol consumption following psychedelic treatments, with studies demonstrating sustained abstinence and changes in addictive behaviours.
4
Ayahuasca and other natural psychedelics have been associated with reduced alcohol consumption among Indigenous populations, highlighting their potential therapeutic roles.

Industrial Landscape

Key players in the psychedelic research domain include Awakn Life Sciences, which operates ketamine-assisted therapy clinics, and Clearmind Medicine, which focuses on developing compounds for AUD. Other notable entities include Psilera Biosciences and Journey Colab, both engaged in innovative psychedelic research.

Quick Indicators

PrevalenceOver 100 million cases worldwide, making AUD the most common substance use disorder.

Research Footprint

0Trials

0Papers

\"Ongoing clinical evaluations are investigating Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) as a primary indication for various psychedelic compounds.\"

Key Organizations

4 Connected

Delix Therapeutics

Delix Therapeutics is harnessing the power of neuroplastogens, a novel class of compounds designed to bring about a new paradigm in brain health therapeutics with treatments intended to be safe, fast-acting, and long-lasting. Through its discovery platform, Delix has identified non-hallucinogenic versions of psychedelic compounds with favorable safety and therapeutic profiles. The company was co-founded in 2019 by David E. Olson and Nick Haft, building upon Olson's discovery at the University of California, Davis, of several novel psychoplastogens that have significant therapeutic potential in preclinical models, without hallucinogenic side effects. Delix's treatments are designed to address the root cause of neuropsychiatric conditions by repairing the underlying synaptic damage through targeted neuroplasticity. To date, the company has synthesized over 2000 novel psychoplastogens, many of which are analogs of known psychedelics such as ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT. Their lead compound, zalsupindole (DLX-001), produces the same rapid and sustained structural and functional plasticity as ketamine, psilocybin, and DMT, without inducing hallucinations or dissociation. Recent Phase I data have demonstrated that DLX-001 is associated with robust signs of CNS engagement and a favorable safety and tolerability profile, with no serious adverse events reported to date. The company's compounds are tailored for swift neuronal repair and can be taken at-home, providing significant advantages to patients, their loved ones, and healthcare providers. Delix focuses on developing non-hallucinogenic psychoplastogens as scalable alternatives to first-generation hallucinogenic psychoplastogens like ketamine and psilocybin.

MAPS

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Lykos Therapeutics

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Leiden University

Leiden University doesn't have a dedicated research centre for psychedelics. However, several staff members from their medical centre and psychology faculty are working with psychedelics. Researchers here are working with other universities including Utrecht University as well as Compass Pathways.