Peyote, a Potential Ethnopharmacologic Agent for Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies: Possible Biochemical Rationale
Kenneth Blum, San Ford L. Futterman, Paul Pascarosa
Clinical Toxicology 1977 DOI: 10.3109/15563657708988210 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Peyote ritual |
| Topics | Mescaline |
| Keywords | Opiate Hallucinogen Psychoactive substance Drug Isoquinoline Traditional medicine Pharmacology |
| Citations | 34 |
| Key findings | Participation in the peyote ritual and Indian guidance rendered alcohol and opiate abuse asymptomatic, and isoquinoline alkaloids in peyote may offer a common treatment for alcohol and opiate dependence. |
Abstract
The authors examine folk psychiatry among Native American Church members from an enthnopharmacologic viewpoint. Alcohol and opiate abuse among Indian and non-Indian are presented in case histories proving to be asymptomatic under Indian guidance and through participation in the peyote ritual. The biochemical alkaloids common in the peyote cactus, rather than just the psychoactive substances (mescaline), are purported to be pharmacologically similar to the neuroamine-derived alkaloids found in the brain during alcohol intoxification. Evidence is reviewed that points out possible common features of alcohol and opiate dependence leading to the speculation for a common mode of treatment may reside in plants rich in isoquinoline alkaloids.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on mescaline, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study of a New Schizophrenomimetic Drug—Sernyl | 1959 | Review | |
| Hallucinogens and Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptor-Mediated Signaling Pathways | 2017 | Review | |
| Hallucinogens in Mental Health: Preclinical and Clinical Studies on LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, and Ketamine | 2020 | Review | |
| Legal highs: staying on top of the flood of novel psychoactive substances | 2015 | Review | |
| Psychedelic Drugs in Biomedicine | 2017 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 19
- Potential Therapeutic Effects of Psilocybin. Neurotherapeutics July 1, 2017
- Psychological and cognitive effects of long-term peyote use among Native Americans. Biological Psychiatry October 15, 2005
- Persisting Reductions in Cannabis, Opioid, and Stimulant Misuse After Naturalistic Psychedelic Use: An Online Survey Frontiers in Psychiatry January 22, 2020
- Classic serotonergic psychedelics for mood and depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis of mood disorder patients and healthy participants Psychopharmacology January 11, 2021
- An online survey of tobacco smoking cessation associated with naturalistic psychedelic use Journal of Psychopharmacology January 18, 2017
and 14 more in the library
Cites 3
- Hallucinogens of Plant Origin Science January 17, 1969
- Peyote in the Treatment of Alcoholism Among American Indians American Journal of Psychiatry November 1, 1974
- Ethnopsychedelic therapy for alcoholics: Observations in the peyote ritual of the Native American Church Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 1976