Assessment of addiction severity among ritual users of ayahuasca
Josep María Fábregas, Débora González, Sabela Fondevila, Marta Cutchet, Xavier Fernández, Paulo César Ribeiro Barbosa, Miguel Ángel Alcázar‐córcoles, Manel J. Barbanoj, Jordi Riba, José Carlos Bouso
Drug and Alcohol Dependence June 17, 2010 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.03.024 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 127 |
| Population | Regular ayahuasca users (jungle-based and urban-based) and matched controls |
| Duration | 1-year follow-up |
| Topics | Addiction Ayahuasca Cannabis |
| Keywords | Psychosocial Hallucinogen Abstinence |
| Citations | 228 |
| Key findings | Ritual ayahuasca use is not associated with the deleterious psychosocial effects typically caused by other drugs of abuse, as assessed by the Addiction Severity Index. |
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive beverage used for magico-religious purposes in the Amazon. Recently, Brazilian syncretic churches have helped spread the ritual use of ayahuasca abroad. This trend has raised concerns that regular use of this N,N-dimethyltryptamine-containing tea may lead to the medical and psychosocial problems typically associated with drugs of abuse. Here we assess potential drug abuse-related problems in regular ayahuasca users. Addiction severity was assessed using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), and history of alcohol and illicit drug use was recorded. In Study 1, jungle-based ayahuasca users (n=56) were compared vs. rural controls (n=56). In Study 2, urban-based ayahuasca users (n=71) were compared vs. urban controls (n=59). Follow-up studies were conducted 1 year later. In both studies, ayahuasca users showed significantly lower scores than controls on the ASI Alcohol Use, and Psychiatric Status subscales. The jungle-based ayahuasca users showed a significantly higher frequency of previous illicit drug use but this had ceased at the time of examination, except for cannabis. At follow-up, abstinence from illicit drug use was maintained in both groups except for cannabis in Study 1. However, differences on ASI scores were still significant in the jungle-based group but not in the urban group. Despite continuing ayahuasca use, a time-dependent worsening was only observed in one subscale (Family/Social relationships) in Study 2. Overall, the ritual use of ayahuasca, as assessed with the ASI in currently active users, does not appear to be associated with the deleterious psychosocial effects typically caused by other drugs of abuse.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for 3 syntheses in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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Ayahuasca users showed significantly lower scores than controls on Addiction Severity Index Alcohol Use and Psychiatric Status subscales, with abstinence from illicit drug use maintained at one-year follow-up except for cannabis in the jungle-based group.
Synthesized
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Ritual ayahuasca users showed significantly lower Addiction Severity Index Alcohol Use and Psychiatric Status scores than controls, with abstinence from illicit drugs maintained at one year except for cannabis.
Synthesized
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State of the evidence: Cannabis Supports
This observational cohort found that ritual ayahuasca use is not associated with the deleterious psychosocial effects typically caused by other drugs of abuse, as assessed by the Addiction Severity Index.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on ayahuasca for addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayahuasca-Assisted Therapy for Addiction: Results from a Preliminary Observational Study in Canada Rural aboriginal population | 2013 | Observational study | |
| Short-Term Treatment Effects of a Substance Use Disorder Therapy Involving Traditional Amazonian Medicine. Male patients with substance use disorder admitted to the Takiwasi Center | 2019 | Observational cohort | n = 36 |
| Long-Term Mental Health and Wellbeing Outcomes Associated with Naturalistic Ayahuasca Consumption. Adults with no prior exposure to ayahuasca participating in neo-shamanic ayahuasca... | 2025 | Prospective cohort study | n = 66 |
| The therapeutic potential of ayahuasca in depression, generalized anxiety, and substance use disorders: modulation of the depressive burden in a longitudinal study. Adults with depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, or substance use disorders treated... | 2026 | Longitudinal observational study | n = 280 |