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Psychedelic Treatments for Substance Use Disorder and Substance Misuse: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review.

Raman Sharma, Rachel Batchelor¹, Jacqueline Sin¹

¹School of Health and Psychological Sciences, City, University of London, England, London, UK.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs

|March 18, 2023

Summary

Psychedelic treatments show promise for substance use disorders (SUD) and misuse, with positive outcomes in limited studies. However, more rigorous research is needed to confirm effectiveness for specific addictions.

Keywords:

Psychedelic ayahuasca ibogaine lysergic acid diethylamide psilocybin substance use disorder

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Area of Science:

Psychiatry
Neuroscience
Pharmacology

Background:

There is a resurgence in the investigation of psychedelic substances for treating psychiatric conditions, notably substance use disorder (SUD).
This review focuses on evaluating the efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapies for individuals diagnosed with SUD and those exhibiting substance misuse behaviors.

Approach:

A systematic literature search was conducted across 11 databases, trial registries, and organization websites for empirical studies published between 2000 and 2021.
Seven studies involving psilocybin, ibogaine, and ayahuasca, used alone or with psychotherapy, were included, reporting on 10 papers.

Key Points:

Included studies reported positive results for abstinence, reduced substance use, improved psychological and psychosocial outcomes, and decreased craving and withdrawal.
However, data was limited across various addiction types, including opioid, nicotine, alcohol, and cocaine use disorders.
Qualitative findings from three studies indicated that psychedelic-assisted treatments enhanced self-awareness, insight, and confidence.

Conclusions:

Current research is insufficient to establish the effectiveness of any specific psychedelic for treating particular substance use disorders or substance misuse.
Further high-quality research with larger sample sizes and extended follow-up periods is essential to validate these findings.