Addiction
May 21, 2024
Shane Darke, Johan Duflou, Amy Peacock et al.
14 citations
From 2000 to 2023 in Australia, 43 deaths involving LSD (33 cases) or psilocybin (10 cases) were identified. Most deaths were from traumatic accidents (36.4% for LSD, 40.0% for psilocybin) or self-harm by physical means (12 cases, all involving LSD). Multiple drug toxicity accounted for about a fifth of deaths. Only one death was attributed solely to LSD toxicity, and two followed a cardiovascular event after LSD use. In four psilocybin cases the cause was undetermined. Severe agitation was the most common clinical presentation. Median blood concentrations were 0.8 μg/l for LSD and 20 μg/l for psilocin. Pre-existing organ pathology was uncommon.
Addiction
August 12, 2021
Wayne Hall, Michael Farrell
8 citations
Research from the 1950s and 1960s on using LSD to treat alcohol dependence offers cautionary lessons for the current revival of psychedelic therapy. Early uncontrolled studies by Osmond and Hoffer reported that high doses of LSD induced mystical experiences that helped alcoholics embrace abstinence, with some reports claiming a 50% success rate. However, later controlled trials found no better outcomes in LSD-treated patients at 12–18 months follow-up, though a meta-analysis showed benefits up to 6 months. The history warns against irrational exuberance and emphasizes that psychedelics are not standalone cures; they require combination with aftercare and rigorous clinical trials before widespread use.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports
March 22, 2026
Shane Darke, Johan Duflou, Michael Farrell et al.
From 2000 to 2025, 70 fatal poisonings involving new psychoactive stimulants and hallucinogens (NPSH) were identified in Australia, the first occurring in 2007. In nearly a quarter of cases, the person appeared unaware they were consuming an NPSH, and about a third involved injection. Common signs of acute poisoning included intense agitation, sudden collapse, and hyperthermia. Cathinones were the most frequently detected NPSH, followed by phenethylamines and tryptamines. Over a quarter of cases had multiple NPSH in the blood. In the 2020s, tryptamines became more common while phenethylamines became less common, and a wider range of NPSH were detected. Psychoactive drugs besides NPSH were present in most cases, especially psychostimulants and hypnosedatives.
The International journal on drug policy
December 1, 2021
Shane Darke, Samuel Banister, Michael Farrell et al.
The term 'synthetic cannabis' is a misnomer for a group of drugs that should instead be called synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs). These substances differ substantially from delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in pharmacodynamics, mechanisms of action, and physiological effects, exhibiting greater potency and efficacy along with psychostimulant-like properties. The authors argue that the misnomer has negative clinical and public health implications, and that adopting the term SCRAs could reduce confusion and harms. The constant evolution of this drug class requires distinct policy responses regarding terminology, harm reduction, epidemiology, treatment, and legal status.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
December 9, 2003
Gary Egan, Tim Silk, Frank Zamarripa et al.
Thirst was induced in humans by intravenous infusion of hypertonic saline. PET imaging revealed blood flow changes in ancient brain regions similar to those seen when thirst is maximal, while fMRI additionally showed activation in the anterior wall of the third ventricle, a region central to thirst generation in animals. Strong fMRI activations also appeared in the anterior cingulate, parahippocampal gyrus, frontal gyri, insula, and cerebellum. Drinking water to satiation immediately reduced thirst and caused a sharp decline in anterior cingulate activation, but the third ventricle activation remained unchanged, consistent with the time needed for plasma sodium to change after water absorption.