Researchers at the University of Southern Santa Catarina in Brazil have conducted a comprehensive review, revealing the potential of “classic psychedelics” such as LSD, psilocybin, and ayahuasca in treating alcohol use disorder (AUD).

LSD (top left), dried psilocybin mushrooms (top right), ayahuasca (bottom left), and beer (bottom right).
The study, published in the journal Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, highlights the pharmacotherapeutic effects of these substances, particularly in cases where traditional treatments have failed.
The study’s abstract emphasizes the challenge posed by alcohol dependence, noting that it is often resistant to conventional treatment methods. “Classic psychedelics have demonstrated promising pharmacotherapeutic effects in the treatment of treatment-resistant psychopathological conditions, such as addiction, especially related to alcohol dependence,” the researchers wrote. They attribute these effects to the substances’ ability to modulate neuroplasticity in the brain, which could play a crucial role in overcoming addiction.
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