From Taboo to Treatment: The Emergence of Psychedelics in the Management of Pain and Opioid Use Disorder
October 30, 2023 Jeremy Weleff, Julio C. Nunes, Gabriel P. A. Costa et al.
Psychedelics show promise for treating chronic pain and opioid use disorder (OUD) by acting on shared brain mechanisms that underlie both conditions. Preclinical and human evidence suggests psychedelics may reverse pain- and opioid-induced neuroadaptations such as central sensitization. The review describes how psychedelics could modulate sensory, affective, and cognitive dimensions of pain alongside opioid craving and withdrawal. Despite the clinical need, controlled studies on pain management alternatives for people with OUD or on long-term opioid therapy remain scarce. The authors propose mechanistic insights and methodological considerations for future translational studies and clinical trials to accelerate development of novel therapeutics amid the opioid crisis.