Journal of addictive diseases
January 1, 2024
Marc Galanter, William L White, Jag Khalsa et al.
14 citations
Spirituality encompasses diverse beliefs and pursuits related to life's meaning and purpose. A scoping review of empirical studies on spirituality's psychological, biological, and cultural dimensions in substance use disorder (SUD) identifies key areas: psychologically, spiritual outlook attribution, spiritual awakening, links to drug craving, and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy; biologically, heritability of traits related to shared spiritual experience, neurophysiologic correlates, and brain imaging findings; culturally, spiritual aspects across settings, distinctions between spiritual and religious phenomena, roles of international organizations, and recovery capital acquisition. Further research with randomization and clinical controls is needed to improve clinical application of spirituality in SUD care.
Journal of addictive diseases
January 1, 2024
Alexandra Arenson, Cynthia I Campbell, Ilan Remler
8 citations
People with opioid use disorder and withdrawal are increasingly using plant-based substances like ayahuasca, ibogaine, and kratom to self-treat, often due to limited access to standard care. A narrative review of evidence from 2012 to 2022 indicates these substances may help through unique pharmacodynamic effects, ritual practices, and increased neuroplasticity. However, the supporting evidence comes mainly from small observational studies or animal research. High-quality, long-term studies are needed to determine their safety and effectiveness for treating opioid withdrawal and opioid use disorder.
Journal of addictive diseases
January 20, 2025
Janice Chuang, Riley Carpenter Lide, Nikhil Kamath et al.
3 citations
A subanesthetic dose of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) was well tolerated in individuals with tobacco use disorder, but no significant effects were observed on cigarette smoking, craving, or withdrawal symptoms 24 hours after infusion or at an eight-day follow-up. The small pilot study randomized six participants to ketamine and four to placebo, finding only transient side effects. The results suggest that, in this limited sample, ketamine did not reduce tobacco use, though further research with different doses and routes of administration is needed to explore its potential for treating tobacco use disorder.
Journal of addictive diseases
March 6, 2025
Christopher Lomas
2 citations
Non-prescribed ketamine use involves complex interactions of neurobiological, socioeconomic, demographic, and psychological factors, with adolescents, women, and polysubstance users at higher risk. Neurobiological mechanisms include prefrontal-limbic dysconnectivity, maladaptive neuroplasticity, and HPA axis dysregulation. Psychotherapies show varying efficacy, and an innovative framework aligns therapeutic timing with phases of neuroplastic recovery. Biomarkers such as BDNF and HRV may guide personalized interventions. Research gaps include limited representation of low-resource settings and insufficient longitudinal data. A comprehensive neurobiologically informed model integrating digital platforms, culturally tailored strategies, and biomarkers is recommended to improve treatment outcomes.
Journal of addictive diseases
January 1, 1992
A H Walle
The founders of Alcoholics Anonymous drew heavily on William James' 'Varieties of Religious Experience' when shaping the organization's philosophy and methods. Although AA selectively adopted certain of James' ideas that seemed especially pertinent, his influence is clearly evident in AA's core principles and approach. This article reviews James' work, identifies which specific ideas were most relevant to AA's development as a self-help movement, and considers the implications of this intellectual heritage.