The Brown University Child & Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update
September 12, 2024
Alison Knopf
1 citation
The FDA declined to accept Lykos Therapeutics' application for MDMA as a treatment for PTSD, as stated in a letter dated August 9 and released by the company. Lykos, the for-profit arm of MAPS, expressed disappointment but plans to continue seeking approval. That same day, three peer-reviewed studies were retracted. The FDA did not entirely rule out future approval but requested additional information from Lykos.
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly
June 29, 2026
Alison Knopf
The Michigan Society of Addiction Medicine opposes a bill that would redirect opioid settlement funds toward research on ibogaine, a psychedelic drug, arguing that such funds should instead be used for evidence-based treatments for opioid use disorder.
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly
April 24, 2026
Alison Knopf
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on April 17 directing the FDA to create a pathway for eligible patients to access investigational psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine compounds. The order also requires HHS to allocate $50 million through ARPA-H to match state government investments in research on psychedelic programs for populations with serious mental illness.
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly
June 10, 2024
Alison Knopf
The Food and Drug Administration voted 9 to 2 to reject a commercial application for MDMA (midomafetamine) as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. The decision was made by the FDA's advisory committee, which found insufficient evidence to approve the drug for PTSD. The application was submitted by Lykos Therapeutics, the commercial arm of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly
March 1, 2024
Alison Knopf
Law enforcement seizures of psilocybin-containing mushrooms in the United States more than tripled between 2017 and 2022, from 402 to 1,396 seizures annually, while the total weight seized rose from 226 kg to 844 kg. The analysis, using data from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program, indicates increasing availability of these drugs, though seizures do not directly measure use. Researchers emphasize the need for data on psychedelic availability, use patterns, and health effects to inform public health strategies, noting that psilocybin can cause adverse effects such as distorted thinking, perceptual changes, and physical symptoms like elevated blood pressure and nausea.
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly
February 16, 2024
Alison Knopf
From 2017 to 2022, law enforcement seizures of psilocybin mushrooms in the United States increased significantly, according to a NIDA-funded study using data from the White House's High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program. The study tracked seizure trends in drug trafficking hotspots nationwide over the six-year period.
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly
October 27, 2023
Alison Knopf
Psychedelics show promise for treating substance use disorders, particularly alcohol use disorder, in addition to their established use for post-traumatic stress disorder. A review of archives, medical literature, and conference findings indicates that these substances can be effective for addiction treatment. The evidence suggests psychedelics may offer a new therapeutic avenue for alcohol use disorder, though the text does not specify effect sizes or sample sizes.
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly
October 14, 2022
Alison Knopf
A recent study reports that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy produces significant beneficial effects for alcohol use disorder. The findings, published in JAMA Psychiatry, add to a broader body of research on psychedelic medications. Earlier studies with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) from 40 years ago showed double the remission rates compared to control treatments, though less is currently known about psilocybin's specific effects.
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly
October 29, 2021
Alison Knopf
Many people with substance use disorder also have anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder, often using drugs or alcohol to self-medicate, though not effectively. In PTSD, the amygdala, the brain's emotional center, becomes dysregulated: it generates positive feelings but also detects threats, failing to distinguish between physical and emotional threats. As a result, feeling fearful, sad, or unloved is experienced as a threat, driving substance use.
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly
September 24, 2021
Alison Knopf
The text examines how cannabis, a plant that grows naturally, was transformed into a profitable commodity. It highlights the marijuana industry's lobbying efforts to restrict home cultivation in states that legalized the drug, limiting individuals to growing only a few plants. This shift from natural growth to controlled production illustrates the commercialization of a once-common plant.