Study: Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Shows Promise for Treating Alcohol and Tobacco Addiction

The study was conducted by researchers from eight universities across five countries, including the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Imperial College London, the University of Toronto, and institutions in Australia and the Netherlands. They performed a detailed analyses of 16 published peer-reviewed studies alongside 26 active clinical trials.

Of the studies reviewed, nearly 44% focused on alcohol use disorder, and 31% investigated tobacco use disorder. The remaining studies addressed other addictions such as opioids, cocaine, nicotine, or multiple substances. Most employed open-label or observational designs, with a randomized controlled trial also included. Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy was used in over 60% of the studies, with doses ranging from microdosing to 20–40 mg per 70 kg of body weight. In alcohol-focused trials, psilocybin treatment was associated with fewer heavy drinking days, higher rates of abstinence, and positive brain changes shown through imaging. Tobacco studies found high rates of smoking cessation, with the intensity of the psychedelic experience often predicting long-term success.

While results were less consistent for other substances like opioids and cocaine, researchers say early findings are encouraging. Still, they emphasize the need for larger, placebo-controlled trials to confirm psilocybin’s safety and effectiveness for substance use treatment.

Researchers conclude by saying “Preliminary evidence supports psilocybin’s efficacy and safety for AUD and TUD, particularly with psychotherapy, but larger clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.”