IntroductionOpioid use disorder (OUD) remains a major public health crisis despite evidence-based medications, including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Persistent challenges with treatment retention, access, stigma, and incomplete response highlight the need for adjunctive pharmacotherapies targeting neurobiological systems beyond the mu-opioid receptor.MethodsWe conducted a...
New treatment options are needed to improve outcomes for patients with both opioid use disorder (OUD) and injection-related infections. Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) has been suggested as a potential treatment for substance use disorders (SUD). To address this need, a qualitative study was conducted to understand the attitudes toward PAT from individuals with OUD who have survived...
Psychedelics may be promising treatments for substance use disorders (SUD). This study aims to understand how individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD), opioid use disorder (OUD), and psychiatric disorders perceive and experience psychedelics for both nonmedical and medical use. Data for this cross-sectional survey study were collected from June 2023 to February 2024 at a large, tertiary...
Opioid use disorder (OUD) continues to be a public health crisis in the United States, with mortality having doubled over the last twenty years, leading to significant economic cost, morbidity, and mortality. This has caused significant demand for novel therapeutics. Preliminary evidence demonstrates that ketamine may be helpful in treating OUD as well as serve as an adjunct during treatment of...
The presence of fentanyl in the drug supply is thought to contribute to the incidence of buprenorphine-precipitated opioid withdrawal (BPOW) during initiation. Long used as a surgical anesthetic and an analgesic, the utility of ketamine for psychiatric and substance use disorder indications continues to grow. We present a case of intravenous (IV) ketamine use on the general medical floor for...
Background: There has been a growing interest in the use of psychedelics for therapeutic purposes. However, there is a lack of research on peer recovery coaches' attitudes toward the use of psychedelics for SUD treatment. Therefore, we conducted a survey of peer recovery coaches in Massachusetts to gain insight into their attitudes toward the use of psychedelics to treat SUDs. Methods: Peer...
While the majority of patients with catatonia fully respond to benzodiazepines or ECT, some have a partial or no response. Benzodiazepines may be contraindicated such as when delirium co-exists. This review discusses the utility of NMDA receptor antagonists as alternatives to benzodiazepines in the treatment of catatonia in adults. A PubMed search adhering to PRISMA guidelines was conducted for...
In recent years, there has been accelerating scientific and public interest in the use of psychedelics to treat mental health disorders. Our study's objective was to assess the attitudes of addiction specialists regarding therapeutic psychedelics. Our study utilized an anonymous online survey to assess the opinions of 145 addiction specialists regarding the therapeutic promise, potential risks,...
Introduction: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the most prevalent substance use disorder (SUD) globally. In 2019, AUD affected 14.5 million Americans and contributed to 95,000 deaths, with an annual cost exceeding 250 billion dollars. Current treatment options for AUD have moderate therapeutic effects and high relapse rates. Recent investigations have demonstrated the potential efficacy of...
Use of hallucinogenic substances as a public health concern has increased over the past decade. Among adolescents, there are increasing emergency department presentations for intoxication with these drugs, contrary to decreasing reported use of classical hallucinogens such as LSD. Academic and governmental groups have monitored use of hallucinogens, highlighting a notable change in perceptions...
A new class of synthetic hallucinogens called NBOMe has emerged as drugs of abuse. Our aim was to conduct a systematic review of published reports of toxicities associated with NBOMe ingestion. We searched PubMed for relevant English-language citations that described adverse effects from analytically confirmed human NBOMe ingestion. Demographic and clinical data were extracted. A total of 10...
A new class of synthetic hallucinogens called NBOMe has emerged, and reports of adverse effects are beginning to appear. We report on a case of a suicide attempt after LSD ingestion which was analytically determined to be 25I-NBOMe instead. Clinicians need to have a high index of suspicion for possible NBOMe ingestion in patients reporting the recent use of LSD or other hallucinogens.