Exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in treating substance use disorders.
Yuanpeng Li, Hongyuan Li, Hongshuang Wang, Xiaohui Wang
Molecular Psychiatry December 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-025-03168-w (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Addiction |
| Key findings | Psilocybin-assisted therapy shows significant reductions in substance use and improved mental health outcomes across various substance use disorders. |
Abstract
Psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, have garnered significant attention as potential therapeutic tools for treating substance use disorders (SUDs), such as those related to alcohol, nicotine, heroin (an opioid), or cocaine. Traditional treatments often fall short, leading to high relapse rates and an urgent need for innovative approaches. This article explores the emerging role of psychedelics in SUDs therapy, highlighting their ability to disrupt maladaptive neural circuits, promote neuroplasticity, and facilitate profound psychological insights that address the root causes of SUDs. Clinical trials demonstrate promising results across various forms of SUDs, with psilocybin-assisted therapy showing significant reductions in substance use and improved mental health outcomes. Despite the potential, challenges such as legal barriers, safety concerns, and the need for more rigorous research remain. The future of psychedelics in SUDs treatment is cautiously optimistic, with the possibility of transforming the field of SUDs therapy and offering hope to millions of individuals struggling with SUDs.
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 5
- Chemical ecology and convergent evolution of natural hallucinogens: From ecological defense to conserved neural targets Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences June 24, 2026
- Psilocybin Decreases Preference for Large Rewards Accompanied by Increased Activity of Parvalbumin Neurons With Perineuronal Nets in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex. European Journal of Neuroscience June 1, 2026
- Psilocybin decreases reward-seeking behavior accompanied by increased activity of parvalbumin neurons with perineuronal nets in the medial prefrontal cortex bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) December 26, 2025
- Novel pharmacotherapies for opioid use disorder and opioid withdrawal Frontiers in Psychiatry September 3, 2026
- Psychedelics and astrocytes: a hypothesis-driven perspective on neuro-glial integration, network plasticity, and neuroimmune reprogramming. Molecular Psychiatry August 11, 2026
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