Short-Term Treatment Effects of a Substance Use Disorder Therapy Involving Traditional Amazonian Medicine.
Ilana Berlowitz, Heinrich Walt, Christian Ghasarian, Fernando Mendive, Chantal Martin-Soelch
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2019 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2019.1607956 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 36 |
| Population | Male patients with substance use disorder admitted to the Takiwasi Center |
| Intervention | Amazonian medicine combined with psychotherapy |
| Topics | Addiction Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Amazonian medicine Addiction treatment Alternative medicine Drug abuse |
| Citations | 70 |
| Key findings | The Amazonian medicine-based treatment program significantly reduced addiction severity, emotional distress, and substance craving while increasing quality of life in male patients with substance use disorder. |
Abstract
Chronic illness management today commonly involves alternative medicines. Substance use disorder (SUD), as a chronic psychosomatic illness, might benefit from a similar approach. The accredited Takiwasi Center offers such an SUD treatment program involving Amazonian medicine combined with psychotherapy. The current study assessed this integrative program's short-term therapeutic effects. We measured baseline data from 53 dependence-diagnosed males admitted to treatment (T1) and repeated clinical outcome variables at treatment completion (T2). Paired samples t-tests were used to assess changes between T1 and T2 (n = 36). Nearly all participants (age M= 30.86, SD= 8.17) were dependent on multiple substances, most prominently cannabis, alcohol, and cocaine-related drugs. A significant decrease (T1 to T2) was found for addiction severity outcomes drug use (p < .001), alcohol use (p < .001), psychiatric status (p < .001), and social/familial relationships (p < .001). Emotional distress also diminished significantly (p < .001), as did substance craving (p < .001). Quality of life increased significantly from T1 to T2 (p < .001). Our results provide first indications for significantly improved SUD symptoms after the Amazonian medicine-based treatment. These findings are preliminary given the design, but strongly encourage further investigation of this therapy, which in the long term may open new therapeutic avenues for SUDs.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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An Amazonian medicine plus psychotherapy program significantly reduced addiction severity, emotional distress, and craving and increased quality of life from admission to treatment completion.
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 | |
| Assessment of addiction severity among ritual users of ayahuasca Regular ayahuasca users (jungle-based and urban-based) and matched controls | 2010 | Observational cohort | n = 127 |
| 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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 58
- Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy—A Systematic Review of Associated Psychological Interventions Frontiers in Psychology June 10, 2022
- The Psychedelic Future of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Current Neuropharmacology January 5, 2024
- Modulatory effects of ayahuasca on personality structure in a traditional framework Psychopharmacology July 23, 2020
- Classic and non‐classic psychedelics for substance use disorder: A review of their historic, past and current research Addiction Neuroscience June 22, 2022
- Associations between ayahuasca consumption in naturalistic settings and current alcohol and drug use: Results of a large international cross‐sectional survey Drug and Alcohol Review July 25, 2021
and 53 more in the library
Cites 17
- Mystical experiences occasioned by the hallucinogen psilocybin lead to increases in the personality domain of openness Journal of Psychopharmacology September 28, 2011
- Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression: a randomized placebo-controlled trial Psychological Medicine June 15, 2018
- Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry March 1, 2015
- Antidepressant Effects of a Single Dose of Ayahuasca in Patients With Recurrent Depression Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology December 11, 2015
- Human Pharmacology of Ayahuasca: Subjective and Cardiovascular Effects, Monoamine Metabolite Excretion, and Pharmacokinetics Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics June 18, 2003
and 12 more in the library