June 2026
Addiction
What June 2026's 14 new studies found, synthesized from the papers below. All Addiction research →
The synthesis
Synthesized from 14 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 June 2026 on addiction found that psychedelic-assisted therapy shows cautious potential for substance use disorders, with strongest evidence from RCTs for ketamine reducing craving and from systematic reviews for psilocybin, though much evidence remains observational. Ibogaine treatment carries a mortality risk largely confined to opioid detoxification, and attitudes among professionals and patients are cautiously optimistic but highlight the need for more education and research. The main caveat is that the evidence base is still heterogeneous and limited by small samples, open-label designs, and lack of long-term durability data.
Confidence in the evidence
Low-Moderate- Multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses (e.g., 35751, 28829) provide some high-quality evidence, but many studies are observational or qualitative.
- Sample sizes vary widely, from single-case studies (28492) to large multisite analyses (27250), but RCT evidence is still limited in number.
- Results are mixed: some psychedelics show positive effects on craving or severity, while others show null or negative associations (28518).
- Risk of bias is present due to functional unblinding in psychedelic RCTs and reliance on self-report in surveys.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety, Efficacy, and Blinding Integrity of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Substance Use Disorders: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials 2026 | systematic review | — | Supports | Psilocybin-assisted therapy shows promise for SUDs, but the evidence is limited to RCTs and blinding integrity is a concern. |
| Self‑transcendence and identity transformation in recovery from substance use disorder 2026 | qualitative | 1 | Supports | A spiritually oriented intervention emphasizing self-transcendence and identity transformation helped a participant move away from an addiction-centered identity. |
| Decoding the serotonin–alcohol crosstalk: the role of central serotonergic dysregulation in alcohol use disorder 2026 | review | — | Mixed | Serotonergic dysregulation is implicated in AUD, but SSRI efficacy is limited to less severe forms; psychedelic-assisted therapies are of interest mechanistically. |
| Psychedelic Use, Microdosing, Motives, and Information and Product Sources Among Young Adults in the United States 2026 | observational | — | Mixed | Lifetime psychedelic use was 27.7%, with 48.8% using for nonmedical purposes; mental health symptoms and adverse childhood events were associated with use and microdosing. |
| Navigating the waves of cluster headache 2026 | observational | — | Supports | People with cluster headache used psilocybin and LSD, with some reporting reduced attack frequency or duration. |
| Indication-stratified mortality risk of ibogaine treatment under contemporary safety protocols: a multisite analysis of 19,071 patients and updated systematic review of fatalities 2026 | observational | 19071 | Opposes | Ibogaine-associated mortality was largely confined to opioid detoxification, with 6 deaths among 10,382 opioid use disorder patients and none among 8,689 non-SUD patients. |
| Attitudes of Mental Healthcare Professionals Towards the Use of Psychedelics in the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders: A Systematic Review 2026 | systematic review | 966 | Supports | Most mental healthcare professionals hold a cautiously optimistic attitude toward psychedelic-assisted therapy for SUD, but knowledge and familiarity are key predictors of positive outlook. |
| Designer Drugs and Novel Psychoactive Substances: Chemistry, Toxicological Effects, Abuse Trends, and Forensic Challenges 2026 | review | — | Unclear | Designer drugs and NPSs pose public health risks including addiction and fatal overdose, with challenges in detection and regulation. |
| Integrating psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy into addiction care in the Czech Republic: Clinical evidence, safety, and regulatory developments 2026 | narrative review | — | Mixed | Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy shows cautious clinical potential for SUDs, but strongest evidence comes from a limited number of RCTs; Czech legislative reforms may enable further research. |
| Progressing from Simple to Multidimensional Models Towards a Biopsychosocial Framework of Addiction 2026 | review | — | Unclear | Addiction models are evolving toward biopsychosocial frameworks, with psychedelic-assisted therapies highlighting the need for multilevel change across neurobiological, cognitive, and affective domains. |
| Attitudes and perceptions of psychedelic therapy among clinical trial participants with alcohol use disorder: a mixed-method study 2026 | mixed-method | 112 | Supports | 64.3% of participants were willing to participate in a psychedelic therapy trial, with willingness associated with higher expectations of research success. |
| Associations between substance use treatment and ketamine use: A hypothesis-generating analysis. 2026 | observational | 173808 | Mixed | Ketamine use was more common among those in SUD treatment (1.39%) than not (0.22%), and treatment was associated with higher odds of ketamine use across multiple substance types. |
| Targeting craving with ketamine treatment in substance use disorders : a systematic review and meta-analysis 2026 | meta-analysis | 389 | Supports | Ketamine was associated with a significant reduction in craving compared to control (Hedges' g = 0.34). |
| Lifetime psychedelic use and opioid use disorder severity in a National Survey: the roles of psychedelic type and mental health. 2026 | observational | 45133 | Mixed | Mescaline/peyote use was associated with lower opioid use disorder severity, while LSD/psilocybin/MDMA/DMT use was associated with higher severity, with moderation by mental health impairment. |
Psilocybin-assisted therapy shows promise for SUDs, but the evidence is limited to RCTs and blinding integrity is a concern.
systematic review
A spiritually oriented intervention emphasizing self-transcendence and identity transformation helped a participant move away from an addiction-centered identity.
qualitative · Sample size: 1
Serotonergic dysregulation is implicated in AUD, but SSRI efficacy is limited to less severe forms; psychedelic-assisted therapies are of interest mechanistically.
review
Lifetime psychedelic use was 27.7%, with 48.8% using for nonmedical purposes; mental health symptoms and adverse childhood events were associated with use and microdosing.
observational
People with cluster headache used psilocybin and LSD, with some reporting reduced attack frequency or duration.
observational
Ibogaine-associated mortality was largely confined to opioid detoxification, with 6 deaths among 10,382 opioid use disorder patients and none among 8,689 non-SUD patients.
observational · Sample size: 19071
Most mental healthcare professionals hold a cautiously optimistic attitude toward psychedelic-assisted therapy for SUD, but knowledge and familiarity are key predictors of positive outlook.
systematic review · Sample size: 966
Designer drugs and NPSs pose public health risks including addiction and fatal overdose, with challenges in detection and regulation.
review
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy shows cautious clinical potential for SUDs, but strongest evidence comes from a limited number of RCTs; Czech legislative reforms may enable further research.
narrative review
Addiction models are evolving toward biopsychosocial frameworks, with psychedelic-assisted therapies highlighting the need for multilevel change across neurobiological, cognitive, and affective domains.
review
64.3% of participants were willing to participate in a psychedelic therapy trial, with willingness associated with higher expectations of research success.
mixed-method · Sample size: 112
Ketamine use was more common among those in SUD treatment (1.39%) than not (0.22%), and treatment was associated with higher odds of ketamine use across multiple substance types.
observational · Sample size: 173808
Ketamine was associated with a significant reduction in craving compared to control (Hedges' g = 0.34).
meta-analysis · Sample size: 389
Mescaline/peyote use was associated with lower opioid use disorder severity, while LSD/psilocybin/MDMA/DMT use was associated with higher severity, with moderation by mental health impairment.
observational · Sample size: 45133
Points of agreement
- Psychedelic-assisted therapy shows promise for substance use disorders but evidence is still limited and heterogeneous.
- Ketamine reduces craving in SUDs based on meta-analytic evidence.
- Ibogaine carries a mortality risk primarily during opioid detoxification.
- Mental health symptoms and adverse childhood events are associated with psychedelic use and motives.
- Attitudes toward psychedelic therapy among professionals and patients are cautiously optimistic but highlight the need for education and more research.
Conflicts
- Mescaline/peyote was associated with lower OUD severity, while LSD/psilocybin/MDMA/DMT was associated with higher severity (28518).
- Ketamine use was more common among those in SUD treatment, suggesting potential misuse or self-medication (19503), but also reduces craving in RCTs (28829).
- Some studies find positive effects of psychedelics on addiction outcomes, while others highlight risks and lack of established effectiveness.
Gaps
- Long-term durability of treatment effects is not well studied.
- Blinding integrity in psychedelic RCTs remains a concern.
- Most evidence is from observational or open-label studies; more RCTs are needed.
- Specific populations (e.g., different SUD types, dual diagnoses) are understudied.
- Dose-response relationships and optimal treatment protocols are not established.
- Real-world implementation and integration into clinical practice are not yet well understood.