Classic psychedelics and the treatment for alcoholism.
Guilherme Lodetti, Rafael Mariano de Bitencourt, Eduardo Pacheco Rico
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry December 20, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111129 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Addiction |
| Keywords | Classic psychedelics Addiction therapy Psychedelic medicine Substance abuse treatment Alcohol recovery Mental health interventions |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key findings | Classic psychedelics show potential for treating alcohol use disorder, primarily by modulating neuroplasticity, but further research is needed due to variable effect durations. |
Abstract
Alcohol is a harmful drug, and reducing its consumption is a significant challenge for users. Furthermore, alcohol dependence is often treatment-resistant, and no completely effective treatment model is available for chemical dependence. Classic psychedelics, such as LSD, psilocybin, and ayahuasca have been used in different clinical and pre-clinical trials, demonstrating promising pharmacotherapeutic effects in the treatment of treatment-resistant psychopathological conditions, such as addiction, especially related to alcohol dependence. In this work, we conducted a narrative review of the emerging research regarding the potential of psychedelics for alcohol use disorder treatment. Psychedelic substances have demonstrated potential for treating drug addiction, especially AUD, mostly by modulating neuroplasticity in the brain. Given that serotonergic psychedelics do not produce physical dependence or withdrawal symptoms with repeated use, they may be considered promising treatment options for managing drug use disorders. However, certain limitations could be found. Although many participants achieve positive results with only one treatment dose in clinical studies, great inter-individual variability exists in the duration of these effects. Therefore, further studies using different doses and experimental protocols should be conducted to enhance evidence about psychedelic substances.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Mindfulness meditation–based pain relief: a mechanistic account | 2016 | Review | |
| Psychedelics as anti-inflammatory agents Animal models and cellular studies | 2018 | Review | |
| A narrative review of yoga and mindfulness as complementary therapies for addiction. | 2013 | Review | |
| The neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis: A review of human imaging studies | 2018 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- The intensity of the psychedelic experience is reliably associated with clinical improvements: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews May 1, 2025
- Neuropsychopharmacology of hallucinogenic and non-hallucinogenic 5-HT2A receptor agonists. British Journal of Pharmacology May 23, 2025
- Unequal representation? A cross-sectional analysis of age, sex, race, and ethnicity in clinical trials of classic psychedelics Journal of Psychopharmacology July 11, 2025
- Expanding the Therapeutic Horizons of Psilocybin in Mental Health ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters October 15, 2024
- Single Ayahuasca administration attenuates alcohol relapse and associated behavioral, neurochemical, and oxidative alterations in rats Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry July 1, 2026
and 4 more in the library
Cites 50
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study Journal of Psychopharmacology January 13, 2015
- Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity Cell Reports June 1, 2018
- Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction Journal of Psychopharmacology September 11, 2014
and 45 more in the library