Hallucinogenic potential: a review of psychoplastogens for the treatment of opioid use disorder
Mary G. Hornick, Ashley Stefanski
Frontiers in Pharmacology August 22, 2023 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1221719 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Addiction |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Buprenorphine Pharmacology |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key findings | Psychoplastogens such as ibogaine, ketamine, and classic psychedelics may offer a unique, holistic alternative for treating opioid use disorder, though further research is needed. |
Abstract
The United States is entering its fourth decade of the opioid epidemic with no clear end in sight. At the center of the epidemic is an increase in opioid use disorder (OUD), a complex condition encompassing physical addiction, psychological comorbidities, and socioeconomic and legal travails associated with the misuse and abuse of opioids. Existing behavioral and medication-assisted therapies show limited efficacy as they are hampered by lack of access, strict regimens, and failure to fully address the non-pharmacological aspects of the disease. A growing body of research has indicated the potential of hallucinogens to efficaciously and expeditiously treat addictions, including OUD, by a novel combination of pharmacology, neuroplasticity, and psychological mechanisms. Nonetheless, research into these compounds has been hindered due to legal, social, and safety concerns. This review will examine the preclinical and clinical evidence that psychoplastogens, such as ibogaine, ketamine, and classic psychedelics, may offer a unique, holistic alternative for the treatment of OUD while acknowledging that further research is needed to establish long-term efficacy along with proper safety and ethical guidelines.
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 6
- Epigenetic drugs and psychedelics as emerging therapies for alcohol use disorder: insights from preclinical studies. Journal of Neural Transmission May 1, 2024
- Effects of psychedelics on opioid use disorder: a scoping review of preclinical studies. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences January 21, 2025
- Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Compounds for Substance Use Disorders. Pharmaceuticals November 5, 2024
- Psychedelics for the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders: A Narrative Review of the Literature. Substance use & addiction journal 2026
- The contribution of psychotherapy in potential therapeutic effects of psychedelics for treatment of opioid use disorder. Current Addiction Reports 2025
and 1 more in the library
Cites 68
- mTOR-Dependent Synapse Formation Underlies the Rapid Antidepressant Effects of NMDA Antagonists Science August 19, 2010
- Ketamine and Ketamine Metabolite Pharmacology: Insights into Therapeutic Mechanisms Pharmacological Reviews June 26, 2018
- 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
- MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nature Medicine June 1, 2021
and 63 more in the library