- Psychedelic Journal Watch
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- Psychedelic Journal Watch
Psychedelic Journal Watch
Keeping health professionals abreast of the latest research in psychedelic medicine
I. Psilocybin for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
Psilocybin significantly reduces alcohol consumption in people with AUD, according to the Journal of Psychopharmacology.
In this open-label study, 10 individuals with severe AUD were given a single treatment of psilocybin therapy and monitored for 12 weeks.
12 weeks after psilocybin, participants reported a 38% reduction in heavy drinking days and 3.4 fewer drinks per day, on average.
According to the authors, “single-dose psilocybin therapy demonstrated feasibility, safety, and efficacy in reducing alcohol use in AUD patients over 12 weeks.”
II. Can A “Bad Trip” Increase Risk of Death?
Receiving hospital care for hallucinogen use is associated with an increased risk of death, according to the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
In this large retrospective cohort study involving 11,415,713 individuals, mortality rates were compared between the general population and individuals who received emergency room care or hospital admission for hallucinogen use.
Individuals who received hospital care for hallucinogen use showed a significantly higher risk of death, particularly by suicide and drug overdose.
According to the authors, “people with acute care involving hallucinogens had high rates of comorbid substance use, and we likely captured elevations in risk of death arising from other substances that were not fully accounted for. Although there is considerable clinical interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy, our research highlights potential risks from hallucinogen use.”
III. Do Psychedelics Decrease Cravings?
Psychedelics show some promise for reducing cravings, according to the Journal of Psychopharmacology.
In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 31 studies involving 2639 participants, craving scores for opioids, cocaine, tobacco, and alcohol following psychedelic use were measured.
Twelve of the 31 studies showed a significant decrease in craving scores following psychedelic use. However, all but two studies had methodological issues.
According to the authors, “some psychedelics may show promising anti-craving effects, yet the diversity and high risk of bias of extant studies indicate that these results are to be considered with caution. Further well-controlled and larger-scale trials should be encouraged.”
Tim Scully spent 3 1/2 years in federal prison for making more than 4 million doses of LSD at a farmhouse in Windsor, California in 1968-1969.
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