Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are complex conditions marked by compulsive substance use despite negative consequences. Recent research is exploring the therapeutic potential of various psychedelics, including LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA, in treating these disorders to provide novel, effective treatment options.
Key Insights
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Psychedelics have shown potential to bring about significant changes in addictive behaviour and promote long-lasting recovery.
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Early studies suggest that psychedelics like psilocybin can lead to cessation rates for smoking that outperform conventional therapies.
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MDMA has demonstrated safety and significant reductions in alcohol consumption in clinical trials involving patients with alcohol use disorder.
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Ketamine-assisted therapy has facilitated abstinence in individuals with cocaine and alcohol dependence.
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Ibogaine has shown promise in treating opioid withdrawal symptoms, although it poses serious cardiovascular risks.
What is Substance Use Disorders (SUD)?
Substance use disorder (SUD) is characterised by an inability to stop using substances such as alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs, despite adverse effects on psychological and physical health.
Individuals with SUD often exhibit cravings, altered thought patterns, and compulsive behaviour, often leading to socio-economic issues and significant health burdens.
SUD is associated with changes in brain structure and function, which contribute to distorted thinking and compulsive behaviours.
Current Treatments
Standard treatment for SUD includes a combination of medical detoxification, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and medication. Current medications include Vivitrol for opioid dependence and various support therapies such as twelve-step programs.
Psychedelic Effect Matrix
Compound efficacy and evidence levels for Substance Use Disorders (SUD).
| Compound | Magnitude | Evidence | Consistency |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSD Historical studies show promise, but modern evidence is still developing. | Medium | Moderate | Inconsistent |
| Psilocybin Recent trials indicate high efficacy in smoking cessation and general addiction treatment. | Large | High | Consistent |
| MDMA Preliminary trials suggest effective treatment for alcohol use disorders. | Medium | Moderate | Consistent |
| Ketamine Clinical trials show significant improvements in abstinence rates in SUD patients. | Large | Moderate | Consistent |
| Ibogaine Effective for opioid withdrawal but carries significant cardiovascular risks. | Medium | Low | Inconsistent |
Psilocybin and Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
Psilocybin is thought to alter neural connectivity associated with addiction through its action on serotonin receptors, particularly the 5-HT2A subtype. This shift can enhance introspection and facilitate behavioural changes that support recovery from substance use, evidenced by high cessation rates in trials.
MDMA and Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
MDMA enhances emotional processing and reduces fear responses, making it particularly useful in therapeutic settings. This drug may enable patients to confront traumatic experiences that contribute to their substance use, exemplified by significant decreases in alcohol consumption when used in therapy.
Ketamine and Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
As an NMDA receptor antagonist, ketamine promotes neuroplasticity and disrupts maladaptive neural circuits implicated in addiction. Its rapid onset of action allows for swift intervention in acute situations, making it a beneficial option in addiction therapy.
Ibogaine and Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
Ibogaine acts on various neurotransmitter systems and has been noted for its effectiveness in reducing opioid withdrawal symptoms. However, its potential cardiotoxicity necessitates careful medical oversight during treatment.
Ayahuasca and Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
The combination of DMT with MAOIs in ayahuasca promotes profound psychological experiences that participants often report as life-altering. Serotonergic activity in the brain during these experiences may help individuals re-evaluate their addictive behaviours and contribute to reduced substance use.
Clinical Outlook
The future of psychedelic treatment for substance use disorders appears promising, with ongoing research aiming to establish efficacy and safety profiles. As clinical trials continue and knowledge in this field expands, it is anticipated that psychedelics will become an integral component of addiction treatment protocols.
Industrial Landscape
Key players in this space include Awakn Life Sciences, which is exploring multiple psychedelics for SUD, MindMed, which is testing ibogaine derivatives for addiction treatment, and Universal Ibogaine focused on expanding clinic access for opioid addiction treatment.
Quick Indicators
Related Topics
Organisations
Search →Clerkenwell Health
UK-based specialist CNS and psychiatry-focused clinical research organization combining select CRO services, dedicated trial sites, participant recruitment, and psychedelic therapist training for complex mental-health studies.
Exeter University
The University of Exeter is a public research university based in Exeter, Devon, England, with additional campuses in Cornwall. It provides undergraduate and postgraduate education and conducts research across a wide range of disciplines.
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public research university located in Exeter, England. It operates multiple campuses including Streatham and St Luke’s in Exeter and a campus at Penryn in Cornwall.
Definium Therapeutics
Definium Therapeutics (formerly Mind Medicine / MindMed) is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company headquartered in New York, founded in 2019 and rebranded in January 2026. Led by CEO Robert Barrow, the company applies scientific rigor to psychedelic-derived molecules to develop accessible, rapidly-acting psychiatric treatments. Its lead asset, DT120 ODT (formerly MM-120) — a pharmaceutically optimised formulation of lysergide D-tartrate (LSD) as an orally disintegrating tablet — has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and delivered compelling Phase 2b results: 65% clinical response rate and 48% remission at 12 weeks following a single dose. Three Phase 3 trials are currently underway: Voyage and Panorama (GAD) and Emerge (MDD, fully enrolled). Topline data from all three studies is expected in 2026, potentially positioning Definium for the first-ever FDA approval of an LSD-derived therapy. A second pipeline asset, DT402 (formerly MM402) — an MDMA-related compound — is in Phase 1 development for autism spectrum disorder.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
U.S. federal institute setting addiction-research priorities and portfolios, including psychedelic-related investigations.
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.
Radboud University
Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc) is one of the Netherlands' leading academic medical centers, located in Nijmegen. It combines patient care, education, and scientific research under one roof, with a particular strength in neuroscience through its Donders Centre for Medical Neuroscience. Radboudumc is known for its translational research approach. The medical centre bridges fundamental science and clinical practice across areas including oncology, rare diseases, and psychiatry. In the field of psychedelic medicine, Radboudumc has been involved in ibogaine research, conducting studies through its Department of Pharmacology–Toxicology and Department of Psychiatry, examining ibogaine as a potential treatment for opioid use disorder. This work included a clinical study evaluating the cardiac, cerebellar, and psychomimetic safety of ibogaine in opioid-dependent patients, contributing important safety data to the broader scientific understanding of this compound.
Revive Therapeutics
Canadian biotech developing psilocybin formulations for substance use disorders and neurological conditions. Lead programme is an oral psilocybin thin-film strip in a Phase I/II clinical trial for methamphetamine use disorder, with approximately 50% enrolment completed. Also conducting preclinical research on psilocybin for stroke recovery and inflammation.
Psychedelic Research and Treatment Center
HaEmek Medical Center's Psychedelic Research and Treatment Center is a pioneer in MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) for combat-related PTSD. It is notable for offering group therapy models and utilizes advanced neuroimaging tools (EEG/fMRI) to monitor clinical outcomes and brain mechanisms.
AtaiBeckley
Clinical-stage psychedelic company that also functions as a strategic-corporate capital allocator through legacy atai platform investments and deal activity in the sector.
MAPS
Nonprofit organizer and host of the Psychedelic Science conference series, alongside broader educational and policy programming.
Filament Health
Clinical-stage natural psychedelic drug development company with publicly announced Nagoya Protocol-compliant iboga import activity from Gabon for R&D and potential therapeutic development.
People
Search →Hartej Gill
Researcher in mood disorders psychopharmacology at the University of Toronto / University Health Network
Notable for coauthoring multiple reviews and meta-analyses on ketamine, esketamine, suicidality, cognition, and psychedelic drug trials in psychiatric research.
Eduardo Schenberg
Neuroscientist and founder/director of Instituto Phaneros
A leading Brazilian psychedelic researcher known for clinical and translational work on ayahuasca, ibogaine, MDMA, and ethics/policy in psychedelic medicine.
Attila Szabo
Researcher in psychoneuroimmunology and psychedelic science; affiliated with the University of Oslo
He is a notable contributor to psychedelic immunology research, including widely cited work on DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, psilocybin, and immune modulation.
Jeanine Kamphuis
Psychiatrist and researcher at the Department for Mood Disorders, University Hospital Groningen (UMCG)
She studies ketamine, esketamine, and classic psychedelics for treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders, including depression, and is a coauthor on multiple psychedelic/ketamine reviews and clinical studies.
Henrik Jungaberle
Dr. sc. hum., CEO and founder of the MIND Foundation; Head of Development at OVID Clinic Berlin
He is a prominent European psychedelic research and implementation figure contributing to psilocybin clinical trials, harm reduction, and healthcare integration work.
Joost Breeksema
Postdoctoral researcher and Executive Director of the OPEN Foundation
He is a prominent psychedelic researcher and advocate whose work helps shape evidence-based psychedelic policy, ethics, and patient-centered understanding of psychedelic and ketamine/esketamine treatments.
Juliana Rocha
Doutoranda em Ciências Médicas / Saúde Mental at the Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo
She is a recurring coauthor on clinical psychedelic studies, especially ayahuasca trials on social anxiety, emotion recognition, personality, and social cognition, helping expand the human evidence base for psychedelic-assisted psychiatric research.
Mathieu Seynaeve
Senior Medical Director and Head of Psychotherapy at Beckley Psytech
He is a clinical development leader behind multiple human studies of 5-MeO-DMT and psilocybin, including trials in alcohol use disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and headache disorders.
Kayla Teopiz
Researcher in psychiatry and ketamine/psychedelic medicine research; likely affiliated with the University of Toronto/Trillium Health Partners research network
Teopiz coauthors multiple systematic reviews and clinical studies on ketamine, esketamine, and psilocybin in depression and suicidality, helping synthesize the evidence base for psychedelic and glutamatergic treatments in psychiatry.
Michiel Van Elk
Associate Professor of Cognitive Psychology at Leiden University
Michiel van Elk is a prominent psychedelic science researcher known for rigorous, skeptical work on psilocybin, microdosing, expectancy effects, and the psychological mechanisms and risks of psychedelic experiences.
Jolien Veraart
Psychiatrist and PhD researcher at the University Medical Center Groningen / University of Groningen
She is a leading clinical researcher on ketamine and oral esketamine for treatment-resistant depression, including safety, efficacy, and real-world implementation.
Erich Studerus
Psychologist and Scientific Director at fepsy Basel; Lecturer at FHNW
He is a recurring author on influential human psychedelic studies, especially on psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and ayahuasca effects and predictors of response.
Connected Evidence
The latest clinical data and verified academic findings associated with Substance Use Disorders (SUD).