Evaluating the Effectiveness of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Treating Alcohol Use Disorders: A Review
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly May 2, 2025 Ritika Shah, Ashish Sarangi
A narrative review of 71 studies on psychedelic-assisted therapy for alcohol use disorder (AUD) finds that psilocybin and LSD are associated with significant reductions in alcohol consumption, enhanced emotional regulation, and sustained mental health improvements over 6 to 32 weeks. A meta-analysis of six trials indicated that a single dose of LSD outperformed traditional medications like naltrexone and acamprosate in promoting long-term abstinence. The effects are thought to involve serotonin 2A receptor agonism and neuroplasticity in the prefrontal cortex. The review emphasizes psychedelic-assisted therapy as a promising alternative or adjunct to standard AUD treatments, especially when combined with behavioral therapies like Motivational Enhancement Therapy.