Intoxication with a therapeutic effect: The psychedelic active ingredient psilocybin from “magic mushrooms” can significantly increase the success of psychotherapy against alcohol addiction, according to a study: After the combination treatment, those affected were able to reduce their alcohol consumption by an average of 83 percent. In the comparison group without two doses of psilocybin, however, psychotherapy only reached 51 percent. However, the researchers emphasize that further studies are required before the concept can be used clinically.
Alternative treatments for addiction, such as the use of magic mushrooms, are gaining attention for their potential benefits. While exploring these options, it’s also important to consider comprehensive recovery programs that offer holistic support. To delve deeper into this topic and explore available resources, you can find out more about recovery solutions tailored to individual needs.
The so-called magic mushrooms are notorious for their use as a party drug: the substance responsible for the effect, psilocybin, has hallucinogenic and mind-altering effects similar to LSD. After use, people report profound changes in perception and often experiences that are felt to be of great personal and spiritual importance. However, in addition to critical physical reactions, anxiety attacks and psychotic states can also occur. We therefore warn against self-experiments and party consumption. However, under scientific supervision, the effects and potentially significant therapeutic potential of psilocybin have been studied for some time.
With a drug against addiction?
Previous studies suggest that the psychedelic substance could be helpful in therapy for depression. Analysis of brain scans suggests that psilocybin can also cause brain regions to be rewired, helping those affected to break through deadlocked cognitive processes. This is in line with the existing evidence that the use of hallucinogens as an adjunctive treatment in the fight against addiction can have a positive effect. As part of the current study, the scientists led by Michael Bogenschutz from New York University have now further explored the potential of psilocybin in the fight against alcohol addiction.
The study involved 93 men and women who had been diagnosed with alcohol dependence according to standard definitions. All subjects received 12 psychotherapy sessions aimed at reducing excessive alcohol consumption through mindset and behavioral changes. After the fourth and eighth sessions, some of the study participants received a treatment with a dose of psilocybin in a controlled environment. The other half received a sedative. Neither the subjects nor the caregivers knew which substance was being administered. All subjects then lay on a couch with their eyes covered and listened to music.
Increased therapeutic success
As part of the study, the scientists surveyed the drinking behavior of the participants. In addition, they provided hair and fingernail samples in order to obtain objective information on how much alcohol was consumed through analysis. According to the team, the analysis found that within eight months of starting treatment, those who received psilocybin reduced their heavy drinking by 83 percent compared to their pre-study levels. In contrast, those who received only the sedative reduced their alcohol consumption by only 51 percent.
Other findings from the study include that eight months after first ingesting psilocybin, nearly half of those given psilocybin stopped drinking altogether, compared to 24 percent of the control group. “Our results strongly suggest that psilocybin therapy is a promising tool for treating alcohol addiction, a complex problem that is notoriously difficult to treat,” concludes Bogenschutz.
As the scientist emphasizes, however, further research work is now necessary before the substance is ready for broad clinical use: the effect of psilocybin still has to be documented in more detail and the optimal dosage should be clarified. Bogenschutz and his colleagues are now planning a larger study involving various institutions. According to the scientist, the potential could also go beyond the fight against alcohol addiction: “This approach could also prove useful in the treatment of other addictions such as smoking and the use of cocaine and opioids,” says Bogenschutz. In conclusion, however, the researchers emphasize again: Be warned against self-medication in a non-professional environment.
Source: NYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine, journal article: JAMA Psychiatry, doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.2096