Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 20, 2014
Joji Suzuki, Justin L. Poklis, Alphonse Poklis
60 citations
A case report describes a suicide attempt following ingestion of a substance believed to be LSD, but laboratory analysis identified it as 25I-NBOMe, a synthetic hallucinogen of the NBOMe class. The authors emphasize that clinicians should suspect NBOMe ingestion in patients who report recent use of LSD or other hallucinogens, as adverse effects are increasingly reported.
The American journal on addictions
November 1, 2023
Amanda Kim, Joji Suzuki
15 citations
Addiction specialists mostly view psychedelics positively for treating mental health and substance use disorders, though a notable minority worry about their addictive potential. An anonymous online survey of 145 addiction specialists assessed their opinions on therapeutic promise, risks, and legalization of psychedelics, including both classic serotonergic drugs and nonserotonergic ones like ketamine and MDMA. Familiarity with psychedelic research was the strongest predictor of positive views, while concern about addiction was the strongest negative predictor. Overall attitudes were more favorable than the authors hypothesized, possibly due to recent research acceleration. The findings highlight the need for better physician education on psychedelics' risks and benefits.
Frontiers in psychiatry
January 1, 2025
Mary R Shen, Dylan E Campbell, Anika Kopczynski et al.
10 citations
A scoping review of eight studies found that ketamine may help reduce opioid cravings and use in people with opioid use disorder and can attenuate precipitated withdrawal symptoms, often as an adjunct to buprenorphine. The review searched two databases, yielding 998 studies, of which eight met inclusion criteria: two on opioid use disorder and six on opioid withdrawal. The evidence is preliminary, and more research is needed before widespread clinical use.
General hospital psychiatry
January 1, 2024
Jeong Hoo Lee, Joji Suzuki
4 citations
For patients with catatonia who do not fully respond to standard treatments like benzodiazepines or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), NMDA receptor antagonists may offer an alternative. A review of 37 articles found that amantadine (27 cases) and memantine (20 cases) were the most commonly reported agents, often showing quick responses when used alone or alongside benzodiazepines. Ketamine and esketamine were used successfully in a small number of cases (5 cases). These medications may be viable options when benzodiazepines are contraindicated, such as when delirium is present, or when ECT is unavailable or poorly tolerated. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.
Journal of addiction medicine
May 28, 2025
Sara Prostko, Alexander Wu, Samuel Maddams et al.
2 citations
Among 192 adults with alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, or psychiatric disorders surveyed at a large hospital, 66% had previously tried psychedelics, 72.4% believed psychedelics could help patients with substance use or psychiatric disorders, and 69.8% said they would personally try psychedelic-assisted treatment for such a condition. Willingness to try psychedelic treatment was significantly higher among those who had previously used psilocybin (90.0% vs. 47.8%), MDMA (89.7% vs. 61.2%), or ketamine (100% vs. 65.7%). Participants opposed to psychedelic treatment were more likely to perceive risks including depression, anxiety, heart damage, brain damage, and addiction. The authors conclude that further safety trials and educational interventions are needed.
Frontiers in psychiatry
January 1, 2025
Ezioma Gbujie, Lisa Vercollone, Joji Suzuki
2 citations
A 72-year-old man hospitalized for hematuria developed severe opioid withdrawal when buprenorphine/naloxone was initiated. Two high-dose attempts failed, and standard symptom-relief medications did not help. A single intravenous 27 mg bolus of ketamine briefly improved symptoms but caused emergence delirium, treated with haloperidol. The patient was eventually stabilized on buprenorphine/naloxone 8 mg twice daily. The case suggests ketamine may be an effective adjunct for managing opioid withdrawal, but its use on general medical floors carries risks such as delirium, warranting further safety research.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.)
March 1, 2026
Veronica Szpak, Samuel Maddams, Amanda Kim et al.
Adults with opioid use disorder who have survived injection-related infections generally support psychedelic-assisted therapy as a treatment for substance use disorders, but they also express concerns. In interviews with 17 participants, common supportive themes included that hospitalization helped them recognize the severity of their disorder, that psychedelic-assisted therapy could foster insight and openness to recovery, and that professional monitoring during sessions was reassuring. Participants also valued addressing underlying mental health issues and the role of spirituality. Concerns centered on the possibility of a "bad trip," adverse effects, relapse risk, and misuse of psychedelics. Further research is needed, especially when standard medications have failed.