How Psychedelics Can Be Used to Treat Addiction

By Sami Ramsammy and Matthew X. Lowe

The Multiple Identities of Psychedelics

Classic psychedelics, often referred to as hallucinogens, consist of a group of substances such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin. Prior to the synthesis of LSD by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann in 1938¹, natural psychedelics such as psilocybin were used in indigenous medicinal practices for several thousand years².

Following the synthesis of LSD, psychedelics were used heavily as a tool for neuroscience research, fundamentally altering the course of our understanding of modern psychology and psychiatry. LSD became commonly known by various names, including Acid, Dots, Mellow Yellow, and Windowpane³. Public usage of psilocybin mushrooms, also known as Magic mushrooms, Shrooms, and Mushrooms, also gained popularity during this time⁴, and decades after the synthesis of LSD, Dr. Hofmann and his team isolated psilocybin from the Psilocybin genus of naturally-found psilocybin mushrooms⁵.

Mechanisms of Psychedelic Treatment

Understanding the mechanisms of classic psychedelics is an important step in considering their potential as a viable treatment option. Psychedelics alter consciousness by acting on serotonin receptors in the brain⁶. This is done by agonism, which is where a drug will bind to a receptor inside a cell or the surface and produce the same action as the substance that would normally bind to the receptor. Physiological effects are dose-dependent. For example, in recent research, participants given 25mg of synthetic psilocybin (high dose group) showed rapid and significant improvements in symptoms of depression, while participants given 10 mg (low dose group) did not⁷. As psilocybin is broken down within the body, via the liver mostly, it will convert to psilocin which contains psychoactive properties⁸.

Shortly after indigestion, psilocin will cross the blood brain barrier where it influences the serotonergic system. Agonism then occurs, particularly when psilocin binds to 5-HT1A, 5-HT2B, and 5-HT2C (HT represents hydroxytryptamine, AKA- serotonin). These effects can last anywhere from four to seven hours, depending on several factors. A few of the elements that vary are the individual themselves (drug tolerance if exposed to it before) along with their body’s metabolism, the potency of the drug, or how much was consumed.

Similarly, LSD is metabolized in the liver once digested orally. It is rapidly metabolized and transformed into inactive compounds⁹. It is thought that LSD binds to serotonin receptors 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C and 5-HT1A, but also acts as a partial agonist of dopamine receptor subtypes¹⁰. The overall mechanism in regard to LSD is not entirely understood yet, which is why continuing further research is relatively important. The effects of this drug can last from eight to twelve hours but is still dependent on the previously listed factors.

An Early History of Psychedelics for the Treatment of Addiction

Anecdotal evidence for the potential of psychedelics in the treatment of addiction dates back nearly a century. 20 years after setting up the Ohio-based sobriety movement in 1935, Bill Wilson, the cofounder of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) believed LSD could be used to cure alcoholics and credited the drug with helping his own recovery from often debilitating depression¹¹. Wilson came to believe that LSD could help “cynical alcoholics” achieve a “spiritual awakening” and start on the path to recovery.

Evidential research into the use of psychedelics for the treatment of addiction dates to the mid-20th century when researchers began exploring their potential therapeutic benefits. In the 1950s and 1960s, early studies suggested that psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin could be useful in the treatment of alcoholism, opioid addiction, and other substance use disorders. One of the pioneers of this research was Dr. Humphry Osmond, a British psychiatrist who began using LSD in his practice in the 1950s¹². Osmond was particularly interested in the potential of LSD to help alcoholics overcome their addiction, and he conducted a number of studies that showed promising results.

In later studies including 536 participants from 1960’s-1970’s, researchers Pål-Ørjan Johansen and Teri Krebs found that a single dose of LSD was associated with a decrease in alcohol misuse¹³. Following reports from participants, researchers noted that psychedelics weren’t being used to numb the pain of the participants, but rather helped by allowing them the opportunity to identify the root causes of their addiction. For example, an interview conducted with one participant regarding the successful treatment of AUD revealed that the patient described his experience meditating to let go of his past and focus on the present experience.

The Fall of Psychedelics Research

As the use of psychedelics became more widespread in the 1960s and the drugs themselves became associated with counterculture movements and social unrest, research into their therapeutic benefits became more controversial. Although accumulating research from studies on psychedelics found promising evidence in the treatment of several psychiatric conditions¹⁴, under President Nixon, research on classic psychedelics slowed in the late 1960s and was eventually halted with the Controlled Substances Act of 1971¹⁵. At the time, this was partly due to the increased usage of hallucinogens by students and fears of the addictive properties of psychedelics¹⁶. However, research at the time did not support these claims, as psychedelic research was producing promising results using psychedelic drug therapy to treat alcohol dependence and nicotine dependence¹⁷.

A Modern Era of Psychedelic Research on Addiction

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in the use of psychedelics. It was not until the last two decades that research on the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs began to resurface in the treatment of addiction¹⁸. Substance use disorder (SUD) is a growing global issue, and new treatment methods are critically needed to address this issue. For example, nicotine dependence is the leading cause of preventable death¹⁹, and alcohol abuse has become the seventh-leading risk factor for premature death and disability²⁰. Nationally, nicotine dependence has become the first-leading preventable cause of death in the USA, making Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) the fourth-leading²¹. Over the last two decades, John Hopkins University received approval to test known psychedelic substances, such as psilocybin on human subjects²² studies of addiction.

Following regulatory approval, several articles²³ have now been published demonstrating the potential of psychedelics in the treatment of addiction. This research has been particularly promising in the case of nicotine addiction, with several studies showing that psilocybin-assisted therapy can lead to long-term smoking cessation.

A recent clinical trial investigated the use of psilocybin-assisted therapy in combination with cognitive-behavioral therapy for individuals with opioid use disorder²⁴. The study found that participants who received psilocybin treatment reported lower cravings for opioids and experienced fewer withdrawal symptoms than those in the control group. Other studies have suggested that psychedelics may be effective in treating the psychological symptoms of addiction, such as depression and anxiety, which can contribute to a higher risk of relapse. While further research is necessary to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of using psychedelics for the treatment of opioid addiction, these early findings offer hope for a new and innovative approach to addiction treatment.

More recently, researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, have led a double blind study involving both men and women who are alcohol dependent²⁶. Each subject was randomly assigned psilocybin or an antihistamine placebo and was supplemented with psychotherapy. Those given psilocybin reduced drinking by 83%, whereas the psychotherapy-only group reduced drinking by 51%. After eight months, 48% of the participants who received psilocybin reported practicing teetotalism (alcohol abstinence). These incredible results have shed light on the once dimmed possibility of psychedelics as being a viable solution for the treatment of alcoholism.

Final thoughts

To date, there is no efficient long-term treatment for addiction disorders. While the research on using psychedelics for the treatment of addiction is still in its early stages, findings are promising. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that psychedelics, particularly psilocybin and LSD, may be effective in helping individuals overcome substance use disorders. As the stigma surrounding these drugs begins to lift and more research is conducted, it is possible that psychedelics could become a valuable tool in the fight against addiction. However, it is important to note that these treatments should only be administered under the supervision of trained professionals, and more research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of psychedelic-assisted therapy. At Unlimited Sciences, our real-world preliminary research on longitudinal health outcomes of ayahuasca and psilocybin have revealed reduced alcohol and drug use. Help us fund our all psychedelics registry to collect data on this important issue. Overall, the future of addiction treatment looks brighter with the inclusion of psychedelics in the mix.