There is a growing body of evidence showing that the controlled use of some psychedelic drugs could have therapeutic benefits, opening the door for a new range of treatments using these powerful substances. A new study published in JAMAPsychiatry, for example, found that just two doses of psilocybin magic mushrooms paired with psychotherapy led to an 83 percent decline in heavy drinking among some participants, compared to 51 percent taking a placebo. By the end of the eight-month trial, nearly half of those who received psilocybin had stopped drinking entirely, according to the small study. Although most psychedelics remain illegal under federal law, research is ramping up to determine is the drugs—including LSD and Ecstasy, in addition to psilocybin—can be effective for treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and existential dread experienced by the terminally ill, as well as different types of substance use disorder. Nearly 15 million Americans struggle with excessive drinking, and such treatments offer hope. Yet we are still in the early stages of researching whether these drugs are effective in a clinical setting. As more and more cities and states consider rushing ahead to legalize psychedelics, we must move cautiously to explore the full range of possibilities these drugs could offer—as well as safeguards for protecting patients.
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Rosenthal Center for AddictIon Studies