What Potential do Psychedelics Have to Treat Addiction?
Substance use disorders are a looming topic in the U.S. The first wave of the opioid crisis began in 1999, and more than 500,000 people have died in opioid-related deaths since then.
While the CDC reported a slight decline in opioid overdose deaths in 2023, deaths from other substances, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, are on the rise.
Additionally, numerous other substance use disorders exist—from alcohol to prescription drugs, to nicotine use. If fact, more than 17% of individuals in the U.S. qualified as having a substance use disorder in 2022.
Despite the scale of the epidemic, there are significant gaps in access to treatment for opioid addiction, alcoholism, and other substance use disorders.
With that being said, we wanted to know What Potential do Psychedelics Have to Treat Addiction?
So we’re talking to experts from around the country to learn about their experiences treating addiction with psychedelics and what potential the future may hold for the industry.
Dr. Andrew Petersen – Forum Health Partners
Trauma is an event or experience that is deeply distressing or disturbing and overwhelms an
individual’s ability to cope. Addiction often arises as a coping mechanism in response to trauma, as individuals may turn to substances or behaviors to alleviate emotional pain or distress. This coping mechanism will often progress to addiction, further exacerbating the individual’s suffering and impairing their ability to function effectively in various aspects of life.Ketamine, a dissociative amnestic, can be administered intravenously to help patients process traumatic events and overcome their addictions. Ketamine disrupts the connection between the brain and the brain stem which allows the subconscious brain to exert control for a brief period of time. This treatment involves a trained professional administering ketamine, and a trained psychotherapist, in a controlled setting to help patients access, process, and file difficult emotions and experiences.
There is ongoing research regarding psychedelics, and currently Ketamine is the one that has been shown to be safe and effective. We may find that others are also helpful in the future.
— Dr. Andrew Petersen, DO, Chief of Staff at Forum Health Partners
Dr. Owen Scott Muir – Fermata
One of the remarkable opportunities in psychedelic medicine, when it comes to the treatment of addiction, is the compound ibogaine. There is already robust early data on single-dose ibogaine treatment leading to durable remission of substance use out to 12 months, and recent data, as reviewed by Cherian, Et. al. in the American Journal Of Therapeutics(3/2024)–of which I am the senior author–indicates that magnesium-ibogaine together might be even safer and just as effective as the compound alone in complex cases. Durable and robust remission may be on the horizon!
— Dr. Owen Scott Muir, Co-Founder of Fermata Health
Dr. Mike Cooper – Innerwell At-Home Ketamine Therapy
We treat patients with substance use disorders at Innerwell via at-home ketamine treatment. We’ve had particularly good success treating alcohol and nicotine use disorders with ketamine. One of the key components of treating any substance use disorder with ketamine is assessing the patient’s motivation and confidence to change. The patient needs to be motivated and confident enough to make changes in their substance use behavior following the insights they derive from their ketamine treatment sessions. Ketamine facilitates the possibility for the patient to develop a different relationship with the problematic substance, primarily through neuroplasticity and the psychological insights that arise in a ketamine treatment session, but the patient has to also be willing and able to change their behavior in a positive and sustainable way.
— Dr. Mike Cooper, Medical Director of Innerwell At-Home Ketamine Therapy
Andrew Tansil – Sayulita Wellness Mushroom Retreat
At Sayulita Wellness Retreat, we recognize the opioid epidemic’s grip on America, with over 130 daily deaths from overdoses. Our commitment to addressing this crisis has led us to explore ibogaine therapy, a substance derived from the West African iboga plant with a history of traditional healing. Despite its Schedule I classification in the U.S. and the associated controversies, ibogaine shows promise in anecdotal reports for ‘resetting’ opioid receptors, potentially reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms. We’ve noted its effectiveness, with some subjects experiencing significant long-term abstinence. However, the risks, including serious side effects like ataxia and heart issues, necessitate a cautious approach. Our mission emphasizes the urgent need for more research to safely harness ibogaine’s potential in combating opioid dependency.
— Andrew Tansil, Sayulita Wellness
Aeden Smith-Ahearn – Experience Ibogaine
They have a lot of potential. But why are we treating symptoms of a societal issue? Healing one person at a time will never keep up with the demand that our society produces. Preventative maintenance can go much further than any psychedelic.
— Aeden Smith-Ahearn, Founder at Experience Ibogaine
Courtney Potempa, PA-C – Hopemark Health
I have been treating SUD for 5 years and see a beneficial role of ketamine or psychedelics in a tailored treatment plan for sobriety.
Not only can ketamine treatments help the withdrawal element, but it can also reduce cravings, making the initial detox period less strenuous on the patient.
Where I find ketamine to be most helpful in SUD is in the long-term treatment of the underlying psychiatric issues which may have led to SUD. Most patients with SUD have depression, anxiety, traumas, or mood disorders such as bipolar or schizophrenia. Many patients self-medicate with drugs or alcohol because they have either not received treatment from a medical professional or have failed treatments and given up. Ketamine is exceptionally impactful in the treatment of depression and anxiety and can aid patients in processing prior traumas. Achieving symptomatic control of mental health issues is key to long term success in sobriety.
Ketamine works differently than traditional prescription antidepressants in that it allows the brain to “heal” itself through a process called neuroplasticity. This process allows patients to make new neural connections, “wake up” the parts of the brain impacted by depression, and maintain mental health symptom control better than most medications. Side effects with ketamine tend to be much less than daily medications and short lived to the treatment session. Patients may find they are able to reduce or stop daily medications with ketamine treatments. I have not found patients with SUD to be triggered by ketamine treatments.
— Courtney Potempa, PA-C, Physician Assistant at Hopemark Health
Caution is Needed
Psychedelic compounds like ketamine and ibogaine are garnering attention for their potential to address addiction. Ketamine has shown promise in treating alcohol and nicotine addiction, facilitating behavioral change through neuroplasticity, as well as aiding in processing traumatic events linked to addiction. Ibogaine shows promise in achieving long-term remission from substance use, particularly for opioid addiction.
However, caution is essential due to risks and regulatory constraints surrounding psychedelics. To get the most out of your treatment, we recommend partnering with a reputable clinic or retreat, who will help integrate psychedelics into your broader a comprehensive treatment plan.
