Psychedelics have been used to treat both alcoholism and addiction for hundreds of years, with substance which range from psilocybin to belladonna used in an attempt to prevent substance abuse or excessive drinking.
Today, the trend of using psychedelics to help with addiction is on the rise again, with people advocating the use of plant-based psychoactive drugs such as psilocybin, ibogaine and mescaline and many more to either “cure” or help in the fight against addiction.
While studies vary in terms of scientific validity, there are some solid scientific studies in using psychedelics to help treat addiction and substance abuse. Treating AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder) with psychedelics which include mescaline and LSD are the most studied, with several trials involving mice and rates showing results that looked promising, and a few more with human patients which also showed results.
However, there is still much to consider for people who are struggling with substance abuse problems, as psychedelics are not a cure and the studies that have been carried out usually pair ingestion of the drugs with other forms of treatment, including behavioural therapy.
Using psychedelics for spiritual experience
Substance abuse is considered a disease of the brain, with its roots in behaviour and habit. The most common treatment involves removing the substance, changing the habits of the users, and working to change the behaviour of the person who is using the substances.
Recovering addicts are given the conditions to change, or a different environment that can force change.
Regardless of these, some people do not fully recover or find the motivation to stay clean of all substances until they have gone through a “spiritual awakening”, which is the finding of something bigger to live for, and the changing of focus and priorities to believe in a higher power. This process is sought after as a motivation within science-based recovery programs.
Psychedelics share a common role, with people often experiencing what can loosely be described as a spiritual experience of deep emotions and inner peace, with the realization of the person’s relate insignificance when looked at the world as a whole.
Experiences like these can be pivotal in helping individuals to move away from substance abuse and helping them to gain deeper insight into their emotions, living without nicotine, alcohol or any other drugs
Psychedelics can cause changes in brain activity, increasing communication in some areas while decreasing activity in other areas, especially the areas which are related to the ego.
The result can be a softening of the sense of self, which results in deep emotional processing, where individuals can look at the aspects of their lives which were being suppressed, as they no longer subject to the same level of ego which was defending it.
Clinical trials
LSD was tested extensively and used to treat alcoholism between the 1950s and 1970s, with patients involving themselves in trials which were conducted by Humphry Osmond and Abram Hoffer. The two used the substances mescaline and LSD to treat patients’ alcoholism. Studies ceased when LSD became popular as a recreational drug and was in turn scheduled as a schedule 1 drug in 1971.
Interest in psychedelics to treat addiction is again resurfacing. The work of Michael Bogenschutz suggests that LSD has a great impact in the continued sobriety of the patients involved in his experiments in treating alcohol use disorder.
There have been similar trials conducted using Ibogaine, a plant-derived psychedelic. The drug was shown to be effective in both reducing the symptoms of opiate withdrawal, and also cravings for opioids for up to 12 months after usage.
Are psychedelics a viable alternative to rehab?
If you live in Virginia, addiction might well be a part of your life. You may have friends or family who have been affected by addiction, or you yourself may have had problems with addiction.
You might even have gone to rehab. Virginia is not alone in the widespread drug problems which residents encounter, and Virginia addiction rates are comparable to the rest of the United States.
While psychedelics show promising results in the treatment of substance abuse, people must exercise some caution. Psychedelics can be dangerous, with some, such as Ibogaine, having a risk of death that comes with taking them.
If you have an addiction problem and have not yet attended rehab, Virginia state welcomes you to attend any of its rehabs, as it can be difficult getting clean or sober on your own.