Landmark UK trial to investigate psilocybin for opioid addiction relapse

Research shows that the UK had the world’s highest rate of opioid consumption in 2019, amounting to a serious public health concern. Further, figures show that around 140,000 people are accessing treatment for opioid dependence in the country. Despite the prevalence of opioid addiction, there are currently limited medicines to help prevent relapses during recovery.

Led by Imperial College London, the new study will use psilocybin combined with psychological support in people who have recently undergone detoxification from opioids such as heroin, methadone or buprenorphine.

While previous research into psilocybin has shown its potential as a treatment for conditions such as depression, anxiety PTSD and addiction, this is the first trial looking at the medicine for addiction relapse.

The study is one of four projects focused on reducing drug deaths that have been funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) as part of the Addiction Healthcare Goals programme, led by the Office for Life Science (OLS). 

According to the NHIR, the programme forms part of the Department of Health and Social Care’s plan to deliver a world-class treatment and recovery system for people experiencing drug and alcohol addictions.

Dr David Erritzoe, Clinical Director and Deputy Head of the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, project co-lead, said in a press statement: “We know that up to 90% of people relapse back to opioid use within 12 months of finishing detox, so finding new and effective treatments is essential. 

“If this trial is successful, it offers hope for a new type of treatment that could make a significant difference to this group of people.

“If our initial trial is successful, we will work to enable the development of further clinical trials in larger populations, to bring a new treatment to patients and the NHS.”

Participants will attend Imperial’s NIHR Clinical Research Facility at Hammersmith Hospital campus to receive psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy and will receive functional MRI brain scans to enable investigation of the mechanisms of psilocybin in the brain.

Imperial has confirmed that participants will be monitored for up to six months following dosing to track any changes to their opioid use, cravings, mental health outcomes and psychological wellbeing. 

Study co-lead Dr Louise Paterson said in a press statement: “This trial will examine whether we can improve recovery in a severely under-served group of people – namely, those with opioid dependence during their most vulnerable post-detox phase. 

“Clinical studies, including those in our Centre for Psychedelic Research, have shown great promise for this type of treatment in other mental health conditions. We want to see if it works equally well for opioid use disorder.”

Professor Anne Lingford-Hughes, Chair of the Addiction Healthcare Goals, and who is also a Professor of Addiction Biology at Imperial, added: “New approaches to treat drug addiction and reduce drug-related deaths, particularly from overdose, are urgently needed. 

“The Addiction Healthcare Goals programme is pleased to fund promising innovations that have brought together partnerships between industry, academia and organisations involved in delivering treatment and care for those experiencing drug addictions.” 

Recruitment is expected to begin in Spring 2025.