Current Perspectives on the Clinical Research and Medicalization of Psychedelic Drugs for Addiction Treatments: Safety, Efficacy, Limitations and Challenges.

Mental health disorders and substance use disorders (SUDs) contribute greatly to the global burden of disease. Psychedelics, including entactogens and dissociative substances, are being explored for SUD treatment but have less clinical evidence than for depression or PTSD. This narrative review discusses current research, therapeutic potential, and safety of psilocybin, LSD, ketamine, MDMA, and ibogaine in SUD treatment. It provides a balanced overview of potential benefits and harms in clinical settings, highlights the need for more research, and points out limitations and challenges to be addressed in future studies.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Mental health disorders and substance use disorders (SUDs) in particular, contribute greatly to the global burden of disease. Psychedelics, including entactogens and dissociative substances, are currently being explored for the treatment of SUDs, yet with less empirical clinical evidence than for other mental health disorders, such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this narrative review, we discuss the current clinical research evidence, therapeutic potential and safety of psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ketamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and ibogaine, particularly in the context of the SUD treatment. Our aim was to provide a balanced overview of the current research and findings on potential benefits and harms of psychedelics in clinical settings for SUD treatment. We highlight the need for more clinical research in this particular treatment area and point out some limitations and challenges to be addressed in future research.