Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine dependence: a case report involving daily methamphetamine use
Jonathan Brett, Elizabeth Knock, Kathy Watson, Jeffrey Guss, Steven M. Albert, Krista J. Siefried
Frontiers in Psychiatry December 6, 2024 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1490907 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Open-label Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A 36-year-old transwoman who was a daily methamphetamine user |
| Intervention | Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy |
| Duration | 3-month follow-up |
| Topics | Psilocybin Addiction Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Methamphetamine Hallucinogen Psychotherapist Pharmacology |
| Citations | 7 |
| Key findings | A single session of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy following inpatient withdrawal management led to sustained methamphetamine abstinence and improved mental health in a daily user. |
Abstract
Methamphetamine (MA) dependence leads to severe physical and psychological issues. Current treatments, including psychosocial therapies and residential rehabilitation, face limitations such as high relapse rates, cost, and accessibility issues. As a result, there is an urgent need for novel approaches to treat MA dependence that are effective, affordable, and accessible to patients. Psilocybin, the active component in numerous mushrooms of the Psilocybe genus, has shown potential for enhancing psychotherapy for various addiction and mental health issues due to its effects on perception, cognition, and affect. Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAT) has demonstrated initial safety and efficacy in treating alcohol, cocaine, and nicotine dependence. The case presented here describes a 36-year-old transwoman and daily MA user, who participated in a single-arm open-label clinical trial assessing feasibility and safety of PAT for MA dependence at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney. Following inpatient withdrawal management and one session of psilocybin-assisted therapy, she experienced significant cognitive and emotional shifts and sustained MA abstinence. She reported improved mental health over 3 months following treatment completion. She also noted increased self-esteem, mindfulness, and distress tolerance. This study suggests that PAT (following inpatient MA withdrawal management) may offer a scalable, safe, and effective approach for treating MA dependence. However, further research is required to confirm the generalisability and efficacy of PAT for broader populations of people using MA. It is encouraging that this participant, a daily MA user, showed improvements in mood and cognition, in addition to abstinence from MA.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on psilocybin for addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| To treat or not to treat? High-potency benzodiazepine use in a case of comorbid hallucinogen persisting perception disorder and alcohol use disorder. A 37-year-old man with hallucinogen persisting perception disorder and substance use... | 2022 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Discontinuation for Psilocybin Treatment and Contributions to Alcohol Addiction Relapse A man with alcohol use disorder | 2024 | Case study | n = 1 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- The Emergence of Psilocybin in Psychiatry and Neuroscience Pharmaceuticals April 9, 2025
- The molecular mechanisms through which psilocybin prevents suicide: evidence from network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses Translational Psychiatry June 16, 2025
- Psilocybin‐assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder: A pilot open‐label safety and feasibility study Addiction September 20, 2025
- Through the Looking-Glass: A Scoping Review of Psychological Mechanisms of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for Substance Use Disorders Current Addiction Reports September 2, 2026
- Effect of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy on anxiety symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis Journal of Psychedelic Studies May 29, 2026
and 2 more in the library
Cites 10
- Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse July 21, 2016
- Percentage of Heavy Drinking Days Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy vs Placebo in the Treatment of Adult Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder JAMA Psychiatry August 24, 2022
- Validation of the revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire in experimental sessions with psilocybin Journal of Psychopharmacology October 6, 2015
- Emotional breakthrough and psychedelics: Validation of the Emotional Breakthrough Inventory. Journal of Psychopharmacology July 11, 2019
- The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act Neuropharmacology June 5, 2018
and 5 more in the library