A new study published online by the US National Library of Medicine provides promising evidence that psilocybin, a psychedelic compound known for its profound effects on the mind, may help reduce heroin relapse rates.
Dried psilocybin mushrooms.
This groundbreaking research focuses on the substance’s potential to diminish the persistent and maladaptive behaviors associated with opioid addiction, a major contributor to overdose deaths which account for more than 50% annually.
In the study, researchers utilized a rat model of heroin self-administration to test the effects of psilocybin. Unlike other studies focusing on nicotine and alcohol, this research is pioneering in its application to opioid addiction. Psilocybin, acting as an agonist at the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT 2A R), a key target in the modulation of drug-seeking behavior, was administered to rats. The findings revealed that while psilocybin did not affect heroin intake, a single dose administered 4-24 hours before a relapse test significantly blunted the cue-induced heroin-seeking behavior.
Conversely, when 5-HT 2A R antagonists like ketanserin and volinanserin were used, they exacerbated the heroin relapse, indicating the specific pathway through which psilocybin exerts its influence. Further analysis involved drug-naïve rats, where the researchers examined the prefrontal cortex (PFC) — a crucial brain region involved in drug-seeking behaviors. The study highlighted that psilocybin regulated approximately two-fold more genes in the PFC than lower doses, particularly impacting genes linked to the cytoskeleton and cytokine signaling.
Additionally, the study underscored the role of IL-17a signaling. Blocking this specific pathway significantly reduced heroin-seeking behavior, aligning with previous findings that link psychedelic compounds to anti-inflammatory properties. This suggests that IL-17a could be a crucial mediator in the therapeutic effects of psilocybin on heroin relapse.
For more information on this study, click here.
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