Psilocybin in Alcohol Use Disorder Maintains Abstinence Efficacy: A Scoping Review
Jacques Suspène, Sarah Huet, Sabine Berteina‐raboin, Amine Benyamina, Patrick Baril, Séverine Morisset‐lopez, Raphaël Serreau
Qeios December 9, 2025 DOI: 10.32388/xcfsag.2 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAlcohol use disorder involves excessive drinking, and existing medications often fail to prevent relapse. Psilocybin is being studied as a treatment for substance use disorders. This review of recent clinical trials finds that psilocybin appears to reduce craving for alcohol, but its effect on overall alcohol consumption is less clear. The authors note that future trials would benefit from larger sample sizes and standardized tests.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Addiction Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Craving Abstinence Alcohol consumption |
| Key finding | Psilocybin seems to reduce craving for alcohol, but its effect on overall alcohol consumption is less clear. |
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder is a psychiatric condition characterized by excessive alcohol consumption. The drugs that are used to treat it often fail to prevent relapse. At the same time, psilocybin is increasingly being investigated for the treatment of various substance use disorders. This review aims to evaluate the results of the most recent clinical trials assessing psilocybin as a treatment for alcohol use disorder. According to these trials, psilocybin seems to reduce craving but its effect on overall alcohol consumption is less clear. There is no doubt that future trials would benefit from larger sample sizes and standardized tests.