Each month our editorial team sifts through hundreds of papers and curates notable findings—for practitioners and informed readers who want to stay current with the evidence. Subscribe to the monthly Research Digest for expert analysis and concise summaries of key papers.
Research on psilocybin for treating substance use disorders is promising but still early. Reviews and small studies suggest psilocybin and similar psychedelics can reduce drug or alcohol use for some people. However, most trials are small, and scientists are still figuring out how much the drug itself does versus the therapy around it (preparation and integration). Benefits seen in studies include large but preliminary improvements that sometimes last months. Risks include strong hallucinations and, in rare cases, lasting perceptual problems or worsening mental-health symptoms in vulnerable people. Many experts say more large, careful trials are needed and that therapy methods and safety rules must be standardized.
Researchers surveyed counseling professionals about psychedelics and psychedelic‑assisted therapy. They found that counselors had mixed feelings overall, but were more accepting when use was medically supervised. Most counselors said these therapies show promise and that more research is needed. The study matters because drugs like MDMA and psilocybin may soon…
This paper is a first look at whether the fast-acting psychedelic 5‑MeO‑DMT might help people with alcohol use disorder. The authors reviewed existing studies in humans and animals and found early signs that 5‑MeO‑DMT can cause intense mystical feelings and a loss of self-boundaries, and that it changes brain rhythms…
