Assessment of addiction severity among ritual users of ayahuasca

Regular ritual use of ayahuasca, a psychoactive Amazonian tea containing N,N-dimethyltryptamine, does not appear to cause the psychosocial problems typical of other drugs of abuse. In two studies comparing ayahuasca users (56 jungle-based and 71 urban-based) with matched controls, users scored significantly lower on the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) Alcohol Use and Psychiatric Status subscales. Jungle-based users had a higher frequency of past illicit drug use, but this had ceased at examination except for cannabis. At one-year follow-up, abstinence from illicit drugs was maintained except for cannabis in the jungle group. ASI differences remained significant for the jungle group but not the urban group. A time-dependent worsening was observed only in the Family/Social relationships subscale in the urban group.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive beverage used for magico-religious purposes in the Amazon. Recently, Brazilian syncretic churches have helped spread the ritual use of ayahuasca abroad. This trend has raised concerns that regular use of this N,N-dimethyltryptamine-containing tea may lead to the medical and psychosocial problems typically associated with drugs of abuse. Here we assess potential drug abuse-related problems in regular ayahuasca users. Addiction severity was assessed using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), and history of alcohol and illicit drug use was recorded. In Study 1, jungle-based ayahuasca users (n=56) were compared vs. rural controls (n=56). In Study 2, urban-based ayahuasca users (n=71) were compared vs. urban controls (n=59). Follow-up studies were conducted 1 year later. In both studies, ayahuasca users showed significantly lower scores than controls on the ASI Alcohol Use, and Psychiatric Status subscales. The jungle-based ayahuasca users showed a significantly higher frequency of previous illicit drug use but this had ceased at the time of examination, except for cannabis. At follow-up, abstinence from illicit drug use was maintained in both groups except for cannabis in Study 1. However, differences on ASI scores were still significant in the jungle-based group but not in the urban group. Despite continuing ayahuasca use, a time-dependent worsening was only observed in one subscale (Family/Social relationships) in Study 2. Overall, the ritual use of ayahuasca, as assessed with the ASI in currently active users, does not appear to be associated with the deleterious psychosocial effects typically caused by other drugs of abuse.