Psilocybin for treating substance use disorders?
Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics August 10, 2016 Bas T.h. de Veen, Arnt Schellekens, Michel M. M. Verheij et al. 102 citations
Existing treatments for substance use disorders (SUD) are only partially effective. Psilocybin, a hallucinogen with a chemical structure similar to serotonin, may offer a new treatment option. Psilocybin administration spikes cortisol levels and activates the executive control network, increasing control over emotional processes and relieving negative thinking and persistent negative emotions. Preliminary data from ongoing human studies on alcohol and smoking addiction show promising effects on substance use. Psilocybin has low risk of toxicity and dependence and can be used safely under controlled conditions. Recent positive findings need confirmation in well-designed placebo-controlled randomized trials with large sample sizes.