May 2026
Addiction
What May 2026's 6 new studies found, synthesized from the papers below. All Addiction research →
The synthesis
Synthesized from 6 studies in the library · AI-generated, grounded in the abstracts below
Found by searching the library for Addiction, substance use disorder, dependence, alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, then ranked by relevance.
Research in May 2026 suggests psilocybin may be effective for cocaine addiction, with one small study reporting 'remarkable' results, and an epigenetic study in alcohol use disorder identified methylome changes linked to psilocybin treatment. Ibogaine was associated with rapid detoxification and sustained abstinence in opioid-dependent individuals, though relapse occurred. However, evidence is limited by small sample sizes, lack of primary endpoint achievement, and qualitative designs.
Confidence in the evidence
Low-Moderate- Only one small study (article_id 27104) directly addresses cocaine addiction with psilocybin, lacking detailed methodology.
- The alcohol use disorder study (article_id 27768) had a small sample (n=37) and did not reach primary endpoints.
- The ibogaine study (article_id 27260) is qualitative with only 10 participants, limiting generalizability.
- One study (article_id 26980) is a theoretical simulation without empirical data, reducing its evidentiary weight.
How we rate confidence
Confidence reflects the strength of the underlying evidence, not whether the result is favorable. It weighs the number and size of studies, their design (randomized trials count for more than observational or single-case work), how consistently they point the same way, and their risk of bias.
Tiers run from Insufficient to High. High is rare in this field: small, early, or open-label studies land lower even when their direction is encouraging.
Evidence by study
Direction is each study's finding relative to your question: Supports, Opposes, No effect, Mixed, or Unclear.
| Study | Design | Sample size | Direction | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E8‑Based Neurochemical Simulation Accelerates Psilocybin Therapy for Cocaine Addiction — E8 Intelligence Research 2026 | theoretical simulation | Supports | The E8-based neurochemical simulation suggests psilocybin therapy can be optimized for cocaine addiction, predicting therapeutic outcomes. | |
| Epigenome-wide association study of psilocybin-induced methylome changes in alcohol use disorder. 2026 | RCT (epigenome-wide association study) | 37 | Mixed | Psilocybin treatment was associated with methylome changes in TLE4 and RASGRP4, but primary endpoints (duration of abstinence, mean alcohol use) were not reached. |
| Exploring the Use of Ibogaine in Opioid Recovery: Insights from Lived Experience 2026 | qualitative collective case study | 10 | Supports | Ibogaine treatment was associated with rapid detoxification, improved mood, reduced anxiety, and periods of sustained abstinence, though relapse occurred in some cases. |
| Addiction, Meaning, and the Modern Brain: Rethinking the Cycle of Pleasure, Obsession, and Consciousness in the Interaction Between the Midbrain and the Neocortex 2026 | theoretical/conceptual | Unclear | The article proposes an interdisciplinary framework suggesting addiction involves the neocortex assigning meaning to reward cycles, but does not present empirical data. | |
| Magic mushroom compound shows promise against cocaine addiction 2026 | observational (small study) | Supports | A small study prioritizing Black and low-income participants found 'remarkable' results for psilocybin against cocaine addiction. | |
| Analyzing the concept of independence in psychedelic research. 2026 | theoretical/analysis | Unclear | The article analyzes the concept of independence in psychedelic research, discussing potential benefits and drawbacks of independent actors, but does not present empirical findings on addiction. |
The E8-based neurochemical simulation suggests psilocybin therapy can be optimized for cocaine addiction, predicting therapeutic outcomes.
theoretical simulation
Psilocybin treatment was associated with methylome changes in TLE4 and RASGRP4, but primary endpoints (duration of abstinence, mean alcohol use) were not reached.
RCT (epigenome-wide association study) Sample size: 37
Ibogaine treatment was associated with rapid detoxification, improved mood, reduced anxiety, and periods of sustained abstinence, though relapse occurred in some cases.
qualitative collective case study Sample size: 10
The article proposes an interdisciplinary framework suggesting addiction involves the neocortex assigning meaning to reward cycles, but does not present empirical data.
theoretical/conceptual
A small study prioritizing Black and low-income participants found 'remarkable' results for psilocybin against cocaine addiction.
observational (small study)
The article analyzes the concept of independence in psychedelic research, discussing potential benefits and drawbacks of independent actors, but does not present empirical findings on addiction.
theoretical/analysis
Points of agreement
- Psilocybin and ibogaine show potential for treating substance use disorders (cocaine, alcohol, opioids).
- Both psilocybin and ibogaine are associated with improvements in mood and reductions in craving or use.
- The need for further research with larger samples and rigorous designs is implied across studies.
Conflicts
- The psilocybin study for alcohol use disorder did not reach primary endpoints, while the cocaine addiction study reported 'remarkable' results, suggesting inconsistent efficacy across substances.
- Ibogaine showed sustained abstinence in some but relapse in others, indicating variable individual outcomes.
Gaps
- Durability of treatment effects beyond short-term follow-up is not established.
- Sample sizes are small (n=37, n=10) and lack diversity in some studies.
- Blinding and placebo controls are absent in the cocaine and ibogaine studies.
- Dose optimization and long-term safety data are missing.
- The role of epigenetic changes in mediating clinical outcomes is unclear.