Drug and Alcohol Review
September 5, 2019
Elena Argento, Rielle Capler, Gerald Thomas et al.
98 citations
Ayahuasca-assisted therapy helped Indigenous community members in Canada reduce substance use and cravings, with eight of eleven participants completely stopping at least one substance by six months after retreats. The therapy differed from conventional treatments by helping participants identify negative thought patterns and barriers related to addiction. Increased connectedness with self, others, and nature or spirit was described as a key element associated with reduced substance use and cravings. These qualitative findings expand on prior quantitative results and suggest that ayahuasca-assisted therapy may offer benefits for addressing problematic substance use where conventional treatments have limited efficacy.
Drug and Alcohol Review
May 21, 2012
Janine V. Olthuis, Christine Darredeau, Sean P. Barrett
79 citations
Among 226 cannabis users, most first-time use of harder illicit drugs—including cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA, heroin, and hallucinogens—involved simultaneous use of other substances, with at least 75% of participants reporting co-administration. Alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis were the substances most often used alongside the new drug. First-time use of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis itself showed less simultaneous polysubstance use. The findings suggest that episodes involving alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis may directly facilitate the initiation of new substance use, pointing to potential risk factors for substance use progression.
Drug and Alcohol Review
January 1, 2007
Kelly J. Clemens, Iain S. Mcgregor, Glenn E. Hunt et al.
55 citations
The substituted amphetamines MDMA (Ecstasy) and methamphetamine (METH, ice, speed) are increasingly popular among party-drug users. Human studies of their acute and long-term adverse effects are often ambiguous due to confounding factors. Animal models show that intravenous METH is a potent reinforcer, while MDMA enhances social behavior. Brief exposure to either drug can cause long-term reductions in dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline in the brain and alter receptor and transporter proteins, though whether this reflects neurotoxicity remains unclear, especially for MDMA. Lasting changes in social behavior, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and memory have been observed in rats, matching some human findings. MDMA/METH combinations may produce greater adverse effects than either drug alone, a concern given that party drug users may frequently encounter this combination.
Drug and Alcohol Review
July 25, 2021
Daniel Perkins, Emérita Sátiro Opaleye, Hana Šimonová et al.
54 citations
People who consumed ayahuasca in naturalistic settings reported lower current use of alcohol and other drugs, including risky drinking, compared to those who used it less often. The more times ayahuasca was consumed, the stronger the association with never or rarely drinking alcohol and not using a range of drugs in the past month. These effects were greater for individuals with a prior substance use disorder. The strength of subjective spiritual experience, number of personal insights gained, and drinking ayahuasca with an ayahuasca church were also linked to lower substance use in some analyses. The associations remained after adjusting for religious or social group effects.
Drug and Alcohol Review
May 1, 2006
Michael Lyvers
41 citations
The evidence for MDMA-induced serotonergic neurotoxicity in human recreational ecstasy users remains inconclusive. Inconsistent findings on persistent cognitive and serotonergic deficits, lack of clear links between brain imaging changes and functional impairments, and confounding effects of cannabis or other drug use complicate the picture. Methodological issues, including poor sample matching, questionable relevance of animal models, and potential pre-existing deficits in impulse control or serotonin systems that might predispose to drug use, further undermine conclusions. Because nearly all studies are retrospective, the controversy over whether MDMA causes neurotoxicity or cognitive harm in humans is unlikely to be resolved soon.
Drug and Alcohol Review
July 1, 2005
Joachim D. Uys, Raymond J.m. Niesink
35 citations
Club drug use, particularly the combination of ecstasy (MDMA) and gammahydroxybutyrate (GHB), is increasing. This review describes the subjective effects of the MDMA/GHB combination and reviews the individual actions of MDMA on serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline systems, as well as GHB's actions on these systems. It is postulated that GHB attenuates the unpleasant or dysphoric effects of MDMA by its effect on the central dopaminergic system. Studies investigating combinations of psychoactive substances are limited, and awareness of this phenomenon and the pharmacology of these drugs is important for effective prevention.
Drug and Alcohol Review
November 5, 2024
Jordan J Negrine, Cheneal Puljević, Jason Ferris et al.
8 citations
Australian psychologists generally hold positive attitudes toward psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) following the 2023 regulatory changes that permitted psilocybin and MDMA in clinical services. Most view PAT as promising for chronic mental health conditions like depression, but express concerns about limited evidence on efficacy, potential adverse experiences, and the complexity of individualized treatment protocols. Many psychologists lack detailed knowledge about the interventions. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive education and training programs, including exposure to psychedelic experiences and credible higher education institutions, to ensure competent administration of PAT.
Drug and Alcohol Review
April 10, 2017
Stephen Bright, M.l. Williams, David Caldicott
5 citations
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies, using psilocybin, LSD, or MDMA, show promise for treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders, with recent randomized controlled trials reporting significant improvements. For example, psilocybin-assisted therapy helped 80% of participants quit smoking at 6 months, and MDMA-assisted therapy led to 86% of participants no longer meeting PTSD criteria. Despite a renaissance in research elsewhere, Australia has conducted no such studies, facing barriers like institutional vetoes. The authors argue addiction researchers should follow these developments, as psychedelics may enhance psychotherapy for trauma-related substance use disorders, potentially paradigm-changing.
Drug and Alcohol Review
February 26, 2026
Katherine M Keyes, Yvonne Terry-Mcelrath, Megan E Patrick
About 1 in 15 young adults in the United States reported microdosing hallucinogens in the past year, with 73% of those who used hallucinogens engaging in microdosing. Microdosing was strongly linked to other substance use: among microdosers, 72% reported 10 or more occasions of past-year alcohol use and 86% reported 3 or more occasions of past-year cannabis use. Odds ratios for other substance use among microdosers ranged from 2.53 for past-month cigarette use to 37.73 for heavy cannabis use. Few demographic differences emerged, though Black respondents were less likely to microdose than White respondents.