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Classic hallucinogens in the treatment of addictions
journal Article
2016
Michael P., Bogenschutz
Matthew W., Johnson
Pages: 250-258
Abstract
Addictive disorders are very common and have devastating individual and social consequences. Currently available
treatment ismoderately effective at best. After many years of neglect, there is renewed interest in potential
clinical uses for classic hallucinogens in the treatment of addictions and other behavioral health conditions. In this
paperwe provide a comprehensive review of both historical and recent clinical research on the use of classic hallucinogens
in the treatment of addiction, selectively review other relevant research concerning hallucinogens,
and suggest directions for future research. Clinical trial data are very limited except for the use of LSD in the
treatment of alcoholism, where a meta-analysis of controlled trials has demonstrated a consistent and clinically
significant beneficial effect of high-dose LSD. Recent pilot studies of psilocybin-assisted treatment of nicotine and
alcohol dependence had strikingly positive outcomes, but controlled trials will be necessary to evaluate the efficacy
of these treatments. Although plausible biologicalmechanisms have been proposed, currently the strongest
evidence is for the role of mystical or other meaningful experiences as mediators of therapeutic effects. Classic
hallucinogens have an excellent record of safety in the context of clinical research. Given our limited understanding
of the clinically relevant effects of classic hallucinogens, there is a wealth of opportunities for research that
could contribute important new knowledge and potentially lead to valuable new treatments for addiction.