Current Perspectives on the Clinical Research and Medicalization of Psychedelic Drugs for Addiction Treatments: Safety, Efficacy, Limitations and Challenges.
Anton Gomez-Escolar, Daniel Folch-Sanchez, Joanna Stefaniuk, Zoe Swithenbank, Andreia Nisa, Fleur Braddick, Nazish Idrees Chaudhary, Pim B. van der Meer, Albert Batalla
CNS Drugs October 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-024-01101-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Addiction |
| Keywords | Addiction treatment Clinical research Psychedelics Mental health therapy Alternative medicine |
| Citations | 16 |
| Key findings | Psychedelics show therapeutic potential for substance use disorders but require more clinical research to establish efficacy and safety. |
Abstract
Mental health disorders and substance use disorders (SUDs) in particular, contribute greatly to the global burden of disease. Psychedelics, including entactogens and dissociative substances, are currently being explored for the treatment of SUDs, yet with less empirical clinical evidence than for other mental health disorders, such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this narrative review, we discuss the current clinical research evidence, therapeutic potential and safety of psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ketamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and ibogaine, particularly in the context of the SUD treatment. Our aim was to provide a balanced overview of the current research and findings on potential benefits and harms of psychedelics in clinical settings for SUD treatment. We highlight the need for more clinical research in this particular treatment area and point out some limitations and challenges to be addressed in future research.
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 12
- Psilocybin in alcohol use disorder and comorbid depressive symptoms: Results from a feasibility randomized clinical trial Addiction July 24, 2025
- LSD: Mechanisms and relevance to the treatment of depression Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews October 10, 2025
- Non-response to short-term ketamine use for treatment-resistant depression. Pharmacological Reports April 30, 2025
- Hype or hope? The developing evidence base for psychedelic treatment of addiction disorders. The British Journal of Psychiatry March 21, 2025
- Klassische Halluzinogene in der Behandlung von Suchterkrankungen – Ein narrativer Überblick Suchttherapie August 1, 2026
and 7 more in the library
Cites 93
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety. Journal of Psychopharmacology July 1, 2008
- 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
- Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. New England Journal of Medicine November 3, 2022
and 88 more in the library