LSD Can Treat Alcoholism

ananyo writes "LSD has potential as a treatment for alcoholism, according to a comprehensive retrospective analysis of studies published in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The researchers sifted through thousands of records to collect data from randomized, double-blind trials that compared one dose of LSD to a placebo. Of 536 participants in six trials, 59% of people receiving LSD reported lower levels of alcohol misuse (PDF), compared to 38% of people who received a placebo. The study adds to the weight of evidence that hallucinogenic drugs may have important medical uses, including, for example, the alleviation of cluster headaches."

Re:I've seen phsychology reports differ.

[Anonymous Coward]

LSD can cause a permanent splitting of the psychosis and the end result can be schizophrenia.

Is that a fact anywhere but your ass?

Re:Makes sense

[Anonymous Coward]

It's funny, but this was actually the original intent of the original 1950s studies. However, the study participants often enjoyed the LSD experience and were able to talk coherently and honestly with researchers about why they drank and why they wanted to stop. The sessions evolved into a kind of guided meditation, and eventually showed a success rate of about 45-50%. Compare this to the second most effective treatment for alcoholism - AA - which boasts a success rate of 10-12%.

Hallucinogens can be powerful tools, and I'm glad we're starting to explore them more thoroughly.

Re:Go figure

[six025]

Is there any part of the war on drug users that isn't based on lies?

No!

How is this news?

[dmt0]

Some studies in the 1950s that used LSD to treat alcoholism professed a 50% success rate,[29] five times higher than estimates near 10% for Alcoholics Anonymous.[30] A 1998 review was inconclusive.[31]

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Lysergic_acid_diethylamide#Alcoholism [wikimedia.org]

Re:I used to take acid all the time

[Forty Two Tenfold]

"Today a young man on acid realized that all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration, that we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively, there is no such thing as death, life is only a dream, and we are the imagination of ourselves. Heres Tom with the Weather." [youtube.com]

Re:Go figure

[Internetuser1248]

It works with most psychedelic drugs, and there are those without the downside you mentioned. Ibogaine is the current favourite among researchers. Also flashbacks from a single treatment are rarer than most drug side effects, and less severe than many. Given that substance addiction basically results in severe illness, death, harm to others, prison and insanity, I think a small risk of a minor flashback is a pretty acceptable side effect.

Re:Go figure

[Gription]

The only reason that the FDA wouldn't approve LSD as a drug is it isn't patentable and the FDA doesn't do ANYTHING unless it benefits a major pharmaceutical company.

Re:Go figure

[HairyNevus]

Well, I think it's abut time an Erowid link appeared: https://www.erowid.org/chemicals/lsd/lsd_faq.shtml#flashbacks [erowid.org]. Anything you want to know about drugs on the Internet, and Erowid.org is your best bet.

Re:Makes sense

[blind biker]

You cannot be an LSD addict - LSD is not addictive.
Here, educate thy ignorant sefl. [thelancet.com]