MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

The Role of Psychedelics in the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders: An Overview of Systematic Reviews

Summary

This research review examines how psychedelic drugs like psilocybin and ketamine might help treat addiction. Studies show these substances could help people quit alcohol, drugs, and smoking by reducing cravings and promoting long-term abstinence. While results are promising, scientists caution that more rigorous research is needed before these treatments can be recommended for regular medical use, and they acknowledge real risks associated with these powerful drugs.

Background

Substance use disorders affect over 48.5 million Americans and remain a major public health challenge with high morbidity and mortality. Available treatments for SUDs remain insufficient, with many patients experiencing inadequate response to existing interventions. Recent evidence suggests psychedelic drugs may offer promise as novel therapeutic agents for treating substance use disorders.

Objective

This overview of systematic reviews aimed to consolidate existing evidence on hallucinogens—serotonergic psychedelics and ketamine—for the treatment of substance use disorders. The goal was to highlight potential benefits, identify key limitations across studies, and determine priority areas for future clinical and translational research.

Results

Ten systematic reviews examined serotonergic psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin, ayahuasca, ibogaine, MDMA, mescaline) showing preliminary evidence of efficacy for alcohol use disorder, with some benefits for tobacco and opioid use disorders. Six reviews on ketamine found mixed but potentially favorable results across alcohol, opioid, and cocaine use disorders. Overall evidence showed therapeutic potential but was limited by small sample sizes, high risk of bias, and methodological heterogeneity.

Conclusion

Although preliminary evidence suggests psychedelics may offer advantages over traditional therapeutics for SUDs, existing evidence remains insufficient for clinical practice. These compounds may eventually become part of next-generation treatments under specific circumstances, but significant research challenges, high methodological limitations, and non-negligible risks warrant caution in interpretation. Use remains experimental pending further rigorous investigation.
  • Published in:Brain Sciences,
  • Study Type:Overview of Systematic Reviews,
  • Source: PMID: 41154151
Scroll to Top