Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 1994
L J Valdés
147 citations
Salvia divinorum, a vision-inducing mint used by the Mazatec people of Mexico, is grown in the United States as a legal hallucinogen. Contrary to traditional belief that it has mild psychotropic activity, the plant is quite powerful when ingested correctly—by chewing fresh leaves as a quid, eating them raw, preparing an aqueous infusion, or smoking dried leaves. Its major active ingredient is the neoclerodane diterpene salvinorin A, demonstrated in animals and humans. Inactive orally, the compound is effective in doses of 200 to 500 mcg when smoked, making it the first documented diterpene hallucinogen and the most potent naturally occurring hallucinogen isolated. This article reviews the plant's use, chemistry, effects in animals and humans, and abuse potential.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2011
Charlotte Walsh
126 citations
The article examines the intertwined relationship between drugs and the Internet, with a particular focus on psychedelics. It traces the history of programming on psychedelics in Silicon Valley from the 1960s to the present, and explores how drugs are conceptualized as a technology and technology as a drug. The Internet facilitates white, grey, and black drug markets, turning it into a veritable candy store for pharmaceuticals, recreational, and lifestyle drugs. Online forums act as virtual street corners, challenging global prohibition. The greatest challenge to the current paradigm may be the Web as an information source, where experiential discourses offer alternatives to the hegemonic narrative, reconfiguring relationships between drugs, sellers, and users.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2019
James Fadiman, Sophia Korb
122 citations
Taking a microdose of LSD (10 micrograms) every three days appears safe for a wide range of people. Over 18 months, more than a thousand individuals from 59 countries reported their moods daily using a standard checklist and written reports. Repeated microdoses were followed by improvements in negative moods, especially depression, and increases in positive moods. Participants also reported more energy, better work effectiveness, and improved health habits. Smaller samples described relief from migraine headaches, pre-menstrual syndromes, traumatic brain injury, shingles, and other conditions not previously linked to psychedelic use.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
June 1, 2005
Evelyn Doering-Silveira, Charles S Grob, Marlene Dobkin De Rios et al.
122 citations
Adolescents who use ayahuasca in a religious setting show similar lifetime drug use compared to those who never use it, but they consume significantly less alcohol. In the previous year, 46.31% of ayahuasca-using adolescents drank alcohol versus 74.4% of the comparison group; recent alcohol use was 32.5% versus 65.1%. The findings suggest religious affiliation may protect against alcohol use, and that early exposure to ayahuasca in a controlled ritual context does not lead to broader drug misuse.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
September 1, 2009
Paulo Cesar Ribeiro Barbosa, Irene Maurício Cazorla, Joel Sales Giglio et al.
113 citations
Twenty-three people were assessed just before and six months after their first ayahuasca experience in two Brazilian religious groups. In the Santo Daime group, minor psychiatric symptoms decreased, mental health improved, and attitudes shifted toward greater confidence and optimism. In the União do Vegetal group, physical pain decreased and attitudes shifted toward greater independence. More frequent ayahuasca use was linked to more independence, while a longer period without ayahuasca was linked to less independence. The authors discuss possible mechanisms behind these changes and suggest areas for future research.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
June 1, 2005
Dartiu Xavier Da Silveira, Charles S Grob, Marlene Dobkin De Rios et al.
111 citations
Adolescents who consume ayahuasca in a religious setting show lower rates of anxiety, body dysmorphic concerns, and attentional problems compared to matched controls, despite similar overall psychiatric profiles. The study compared 40 adolescents from a Brazilian ayahuasca sect with 40 controls matched on sex, age, and education. Screening scales for depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse, attentional problems, and body dysmorphic disorders found considerably lower positive scores for anxiety, body dysmorphism, and attentional problems among ayahuasca-using adolescents. These low frequencies may reflect a protective effect of religious affiliation, though further research on other variables is needed.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 1998
M Mangini
107 citations
LSD was studied extensively for therapeutic use after its discovery in 1943, particularly for treating alcoholism, inspired by the observation that delirium tremens sometimes led alcoholics to reduce drinking. Early researchers conducted many hypothesis-generating studies with varied designs, but few controlled trials tested the premise. After twenty-five years, flawed methodology, uneven results, and social disapproval halted research, leaving many questions unanswered. Today, after a thirty-year pause, interest in these historical findings has revived. This article reviews the history of LSD treatment for alcoholism and the events that reclassified hallucinogens as drugs of abuse.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2001
J Ott
106 citations
Self-experiments with pharmepéna (crystalline 5-MeO-DMT, sometimes combined with harmaline or harmine) via intranasal, sublingual, and oral routes model South American shamanic snuffs like epéna. The 1967 Holmstedt-Lindgren hypothesis—that intranasal tryptamines are potentiated by MAOI beta-carbolines from Banisteriopsis caapi—was confirmed in about 17 bioassays. Relevant phytochemical and psychonautic literature is also reviewed.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2023
Aviad Hadar, Jonathan David, Nadav Shalit et al.
93 citations
Psychedelics were used to treat psychiatric conditions before their prohibition in the late 1960s. Over the past three decades, research interest in their therapeutic potential has revived, with expected FDA approvals for various conditions. This bibliometric analysis characterized the top-cited 100 articles in the field, which were cited between 82 and 668 times (median 125; mean 158). Fifty-four percent of these articles were published in the last decade (2010-2020). Network and author impact analysis identified key figures and collaboration networks. The UK, USA, Switzerland, Spain, and Brazil lead the field. The findings facilitate research evaluation, data-driven funding policies, and a practical map for researchers and clinicians.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2019
Anne C Wagner, Michael C Mithoefer, Ann T Mithoefer et al.
92 citations
Combining Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD (CBCT) with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in a small pilot trial can reduce PTSD symptoms and improve relationship satisfaction. A case study of one couple with a severe trauma history, representative of the trial participants, details the integrated methodology and the couple's treatment experience. The article describes how these two therapeutic modalities were merged and demonstrates that the combination produces positive outcomes, including symptom reduction and enhanced relationship functioning.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 1996
T Lyttle, D Goldstein, J Gartz
84 citations
The Bufo toad and its chemical bufotenine have been surrounded by myth and misinformation for centuries. Used in ancient magic and medicine, the toad was later seen as both a cure and a poison. In the 1960s, it became a countercultural icon when people reportedly licked or smoked its secretions to get high. Bufotenine has been scientifically debated since 1893. This paper reviews the extensive literature to clarify the facts and separate them from popular and scientific confusion, providing a comprehensive bibliography for further research.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2000
M C Mcbride
71 citations
Bufotenine shows activity similar to LSD, psilocin, and 5-MeO-DMT at serotonin receptors 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C, which are linked to hallucinogenic effects. Computer modeling indicates bufotenine can bind and activate these receptors. The lack of classic hallucinogenic response in human experiments likely results from poor blood-brain barrier penetration, not from failure to activate brain receptors. Under certain physiological conditions, similar drugs that normally do not cross the blood-brain barrier can enter the brain. While direct human evidence of hallucinogenic activity is absent, these factors suggest possible psychoactivity, and updated experimental models are proposed to test bufotenine's hallucinogenic potential.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2019
Ilana Berlowitz, Heinrich Walt, Christian Ghasarian et al.
70 citations
An integrative treatment program combining Amazonian medicine with psychotherapy significantly reduced substance use disorder symptoms in male patients. Among 36 participants who completed the program, addiction severity for drug and alcohol use, psychiatric status, social and familial relationships, emotional distress, and substance craving all decreased substantially. Quality of life also increased markedly. Nearly all participants were dependent on multiple substances, primarily cannabis, alcohol, and cocaine-related drugs. These preliminary results suggest the approach may offer new therapeutic options for substance use disorders.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
June 1, 2005
Evelyn Doering-Silveira, Enrique Lopez, Charles S Grob et al.
70 citations
Adolescents who use ayahuasca in a religious context show no significant differences in neuropsychological performance compared to matched controls. A battery of tests measuring speeded attention, visual search, sequencing, psychomotor speed, verbal and visual abilities, memory, and mental flexibility found no impairment among ayahuasca users. The groups were matched for sex, age, and education. Statistical comparisons using independent t-tests indicated no significant differences on any measure. The authors suggest further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2018
Benjamin J Malcolm, Martin Polanco, Joseph P Barsuglia
64 citations
Ibogaine, a plant-derived compound, reduces opioid withdrawal and craving during detoxification. In 50 participants with opioid use disorder undergoing a week-long ibogaine treatment protocol, withdrawal and craving scores were significantly lower 48 hours after administration compared to baseline. At that point, 78% showed no objective clinical signs of opioid withdrawal, 79% reported minimal cravings, and 68% reported only mild subjective withdrawal symptoms. The findings suggest ibogaine can facilitate opioid detoxification by easing withdrawal and craving, but controlled trials are needed to confirm these results.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2014
Amy Emerson, Linnae Ponté, Lisa Jerome et al.
64 citations
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) was founded in 1986 as a nonprofit psychedelic pharmaceutical company in response to the 1985 scheduling of MDMA. MAPS developed the first double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD and plans for FDA prescription approval in 2021. Its research expanded to include LSD-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety from life-threatening illness, observational studies of ibogaine for addiction, and MDMA for social anxiety in people with autism. MAPS' harm-reduction efforts aim to avoid backlash and build a post-prohibition world by helping non-medical users transform difficult psychedelic experiences into growth opportunities.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2001
J Ott
60 citations
Bufotenine (5-HO-DMT), a psychoactive compound found in South American shamanic snuffs made from Anadenanthera seeds, produces visionary effects when administered intranasally, sublingually, intrarectally, or as inhaled vapor. Twenty-five human self-experiments confirmed the 1967 Holmstedt-Lindgren hypothesis: that intranasal potentiation of tryptamines occurs when combined with monoamine-oxidase-inhibiting beta-carbolines from Banisteriopsis caapi. The text reviews phytochemical and psychonautic literature and details bufotenine isolation from Anadenanthera seeds.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2002
Marlene Dobkin De Rios, Charles S Grob, John R Baker
58 citations
Drug substitution using hallucinogens such as ayahuasca, ibogaine, peyote, and LSD can help people recover from addiction to substances like alcohol and opiates. A redemptive model, drawing on data from the U.S., Brazil, Peru, and West Africa, proposes that using one psychoactive substance in a spiritual or clinical setting frees individuals from addiction and restores them as functioning community members. Two mechanisms are proposed: psychological suggestibility aids in achieving abstinence, and neurophysiological and neurochemical changes support substitution efficacy. Research with the Uñaio do Vegetal Church in Brazil illustrates this model.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2003
Mark Mowry, Michael Mosher, Wayne Briner
54 citations
Salvinorin A, a hallucinogen used as a legal alternative to controlled substances, has low physical toxicity even at doses far exceeding typical human exposure. In anesthetized rats given 1600 mcg/kg, no effects were observed on cardiac conduction, temperature, or galvanic skin response, though a nonsignificant rise in pulse pressure occurred. Mice chronically exposed to doses up to 6400 mcg/kg for two weeks showed no significant histologic changes in brain, heart, kidney, bone marrow, blood, or spleen. These findings indicate minimal acute and chronic organ damage, but further research on blood pressure and psychological effects is warranted.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2019
Thomas K Brown, Geoff E Noller, Julie O Denenberg
48 citations
Ibogaine, a powerful oneiric alkaloid derived from Tabernanthe iboga, produces subjective experiences that may contribute to its therapeutic capacity for opioid use disorder. In 44 participants from two observational treatment studies, 43% achieved a "complete mystical experience" in more than five of seven domains on the States of Consciousness Questionnaire. Qualitative analysis revealed themes of auditory and visual phenomena, cyclic visions, confronting realizations of remorse and regret, and release from guilt and worthlessness. Many reported spiritual transformation. The oneiric effects appear to be a discrete element in ibogaine's healing capacity, distinct from its pharmacological actions that reduce withdrawal and craving.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
June 1, 2008
O Hayden Griffin, Bryan Lee Miller, David N Khey
46 citations
The legal status of the hallucinogenic plant Salvia divinorum is rapidly changing in the United States, with state-level prohibitions emerging in a way not seen since the Controlled Substances Act. This article describes the plant, reviews the different legal mechanisms states have used to control it and the pending legislation proposing further controls, and discusses the implications of these various state laws.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2011
Brian C Kelly
39 citations
Young adults who use Salvia divinorum, a legally available hallucinogenic plant, typically consume it in home settings like apartments and houses, though some use it in parks, bars, or parties. The intense hallucinogenic experience is described positively by some users, while others find it too overwhelming to continue use. Most report no significant negative health effects, aside from occasional mental cloudiness, and no negative health events among peers. This lack of reported harm may reinforce favorable social norms toward salvia. Overall, users perceive a low risk profile for the substance, possibly influenced by its legal status.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2023
Otto Simonsson, Simon B Goldberg
37 citations
In a representative sample of 953 American adults, those who had used classic psychedelics in their lifetime or reported greater ego dissolution during their most intense psychedelic experience were more likely to also have experience with meditation. Among meditators, higher ego dissolution was linked to more frequent meditation practice. Both lifetime psychedelic use and ego dissolution were associated with enlightenment as a motivation to meditate and with fewer perceived barriers to meditation. Ego dissolution was also tied to finding meditation more effective. Neither psychedelic use nor ego dissolution was associated with a higher likelihood of meditation-related adverse effects. These findings suggest a potential synergy between psychedelics and meditation, but randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm causality.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2023
Alexandre Augusto De Deus Pontual, H G Senhorini, C M Corradi-Webster et al.
37 citations
A systematic review identified nine psychometric instruments used to assess subjective states induced by psychedelic drugs, including the MEQ, 5D-ASC, HRS, PSI, EDI, CEQ, EBI, EDI, and PIQ. Of 857 articles screened, 15 met the criteria. Eight instruments measure phenomenological aspects of the psychedelic experience, and one screens for psychotic or manic episodes. The number of instruments is growing, but many aspects of the psychedelic experience still lack measurement.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2017
Annamarie Heink, Steve Katsikas, Tiffany Lange-Altman
35 citations
Ibogaine, a naturally occurring psychoactive substance, has been reported to have anti-addictive properties that aid in treating substance use disorders. An online survey of 27 individuals who used ibogaine in the past found that they tended to describe thematically similar experiences post-treatment. Using a psychometrically sound measure of altered states of consciousness (5d-ASC), the study found positive correlations between various dimensions of the altered states and treatment outcomes, including ability to make changes in one's life, reduced cravings, and how changed the person was as a result of ibogaine treatment. Generalizability is limited due to high attrition and low sample size.