Cannabis & Psychedelics Reported Most Effective Non-Prescription Drugs by Eating Disorder Patients

An international survey of thousands of eating disorder patients found that respondents rated cannabis and psychedelics, including psilocybin and LSD, as the most effective non-prescription drugs for treating their symptoms.

The survey, conducted by University of Sydney researchers and published in JAMA Network Open, found that typical prescription drugs like antidepressants were not well-regarded by respondents. Additionally, respondents said the worst non-prescribed substances for treating their symptoms included alcohol, nicotine, and cocaine, although they are still widely used.

“Our results provide important insights into the lived experiences of people with eating disorders and their drug use, highlighting promising avenues for future research into treatments,” the lead researcher, Sarah-Catherine Rodan, a PhD student at the University of Sydney’s Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, said in a press release.

“This research suggests that cannabis and psychedelics hold significant promise for improving quality of life in individuals suffering eating disorders. This is particularly salient since current pharmacological options for these patients are severely limited and current treatment outcomes so disappointing. Of course, rigorous clinical trials are needed to confirm these benefits and better determine safety profiles.” — Professor Iain McGregor, the paper’s senior author and Academic Director of the Lambert Initiative, in a statement

The survey targeted 7,600 individuals across 83 countries. About two-thirds of the respondents were formally diagnosed with an eating disorder; the others “self-reported an eating disorder that caused distress.” Additionally, all major eating disorders were represented in the study, the researchers said, including anorexia nervosa (40%), bulimia nervosa (19%), binge-eating disorder (11%), and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) (9%).

“I hope this study gives a voice to people living with eating disorders, revealing that their often-stigmatised experiences with drugs might in fact have therapeutic potential,” Rodan said.