AA, Bill Wilson, Carl Jung and LSD.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychopharmacology
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a widely recognized support system for alcohol use disorder (AUD).
• Concerns regarding AA's success rates were noted by co-founder Bill Wilson.
• Historical research in the 1950s explored lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) as a potential treatment for AUD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the historical context of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in treating alcohol use disorder (AUD).
• To investigate Bill Wilson's advocacy for LSD-assisted therapy in Alcoholics Anonymous.
• To explore Carl Jung's potential views on LSD for AUD treatment, referencing his correspondence with Bill Wilson.

Main Methods:

• Review of historical documents, including Bill Wilson's correspondence with Carl Jung.
• Analysis of Jung's prior opinions on psychedelic substances.
• Examination of reported clinical successes of LSD in treating alcoholics.

Main Results:

• Bill Wilson detailed his personal LSD experience and Canadian psychiatrists' successful AUD treatment outcomes in a letter to Carl Jung.
• Aniela Jaffé responded to Wilson's letter, indicating Jung's awareness of the information before his passing.
• The article contrasts Jung's initial negative views on psychedelics with the documented efficacy of LSD for AUD.

Conclusions:

• The study posits whether Carl Jung might have reconsidered his stance on psychedelics, similar to his evolving views on group therapy.
• This exploration suggests a potential paradigm shift in psychedelic therapy for alcohol use disorder.
• The historical perspective highlights the enduring interest in novel therapeutic approaches for AUD.