Reduction of alcohol use and increase in psychological flexibility after a naturalistic psychedelic experience: a retrospective survey.
Ewen Kervadec, Baptiste Fauvel, Lana Strika-Bruneau, Ammar Amirouche, Vincent Verroust, Pascale Piolino, Bruno Romeo, Amine Benyamina
Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire) January 17, 2024 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agad078 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA retrospective online survey of 160 individuals who had a psychedelic experience and a drinking habit found that the average number of drinking days per week and scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) decreased significantly afterward. Those who quit or reduced drinking had more severe alcohol use disorder and lower psychological flexibility before the session. The reduction in alcohol use was linked to the intensity of the mystical experience, and psychological flexibility increased more in participants who cut back on drinking. The findings suggest a naturalistic psychedelic experience may be associated with reduced alcohol use and dependency, possibly through mystical experiences and increased psychological flexibility.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Retrospective online survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 160 |
| Population | Individuals who reported a psychedelic experience and a concomitant drinking habit |
| Intervention | Psychedelic experience |
| Topics | Addiction |
| Keywords | Drinking Psychedelic Psychological flexibility |
| Citations | 15 |
| Key finding | A naturalistic psychedelic experience was associated with a significant reduction in drinking days per week and AUDIT scores, with the reduction linked to the intensity of the mystical experience and increases in psychological flexibility. |
Abstract
Alcohol use can be significantly associated with negative social, professional, and health outcomes. Even more so, alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a critical public health issue and major avoidable risk factor. This study aimed to examine the effect of a naturalistic psychedelic experience on alcohol use and related measures. A retrospective online survey was conducted on 160 individuals who reported a psychedelic experience and a concomitant drinking habit but did not necessarily have an AUD. Demographic data, characteristics of the psychedelic experience, and changes in alcohol consumption and psychological flexibility were surveyed. Results: The mean number of drinking days per week and AUDIT scores significantly decreased after the psychedelic experience (P < .001). Subjects who quit or reduced drinking had a more severe AUD (P < .01) and lower psychological flexibility (P = .003) before the psychedelic session. Alcohol use reduction was significantly associated with the intensity of the mystical experience (P = .03). Psychological flexibility increased more in participants who reduced their alcohol use (P < .001), and the change in psychological flexibility was one of the predictors of alcohol use improvement (P = .003). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a naturalistic psychedelic experience could be associated with a reduction in alcohol use and dependency. Such positive health outcomes can be associated with the intensity of the mystical experience as well as an increase in psychological flexibility.