LSD 'helps alcoholics to give up drinking'

**huge285** · 03-10-2012, 01:12 PM

LSD 'helps alcoholics to give up drinking'

Could LSD be used to treat alcoholism?

One dose of the hallucinogenic drug LSD could help alcoholics give up drinking, according to an analysis of studies performed in the 1960s.
A study, presented in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, looked at data from six trials and more than 500 patients.

It said there was a "significant beneficial effect" on alcohol abuse, which lasted several months after the drug was taken.
An expert said this was "as good as anything we've got".

LSD is a class A drug in the UK and is one of the most powerful hallucinogens ever identified. It appears to work by blocking a chemical in the brain, serotonin, which controls functions including perception, behaviour, hunger and mood.

Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology analysed earlier studies on the drug between 1966 and 1970.
Patients were all taking part in alcohol treatment programmes, but some were given a single dose of LSD of between 210 and 800 micrograms.

Dangers of LSD

During a trip the person may put themselves in danger without realising it such as thinking they can fly and trying to jump off a high building.
In some people, especially if LSD is taken in high doses, the drug can cause intense anxiety and panic attacks.
Some people experience flashbacks, reliving a bad trip weeks or even months after it happened.
In those already vulnerable, LSD may be the trigger for psychotic illness. Paranoia and other symptoms typical of schizophrenia may occur.

For the group of patients taking LSD, 59% showed reduced levels of alcohol misuse compared with 38% in the other group.
This effect was maintained six months after taking the hallucinogen, but it disappeared after a year. Those taking LSD also reported higher levels of abstinence.
The report's authors, Teri Krebs and Pal-Orjan Johansen, said: "A single dose of LSD has a significant beneficial effect on alcohol misuse."
They suggested that more regular doses might lead to a sustained benefit.

"Given the evidence for a beneficial effect of LSD on alcoholism, it is puzzling why this treatment approach has been largely overlooked," they added.
Prof David Nutt, who was sacked as the UK government's drugs adviser, has previously called for the laws around illegal drugs to be relaxed to enable more research.
He said: "Curing alcohol dependency requires huge changes in the way you see yourself. That's what LSD does.

"Overall there is a big effect, show me another treatment with results as good; we've missed a trick here.
"This is probably as good as anything we've got [for treating alcoholism]."

**retwa** · 03-10-2012, 01:18 PM

This has been well known for a long time...just another unfortunate side effect of the war on drugs, where drugs with potential medical value labeled "schedule 1" can't really be studied at all for their possible benefits.

Back in the 60s, before LSD was made illegal, it was used at some clinics for treating alcoholism and addiction to narcotics. The drug would induce a profound realization in the addict that their life was fucked from their substance abuse, and many of them would never use again. Success rates with alcoholics specifically rivaled those of pretty much any other treatment method out there.

**Dirty Gerdy** · 03-10-2012, 01:50 PM

The book "the Harvard Psychadelic club" is a good read. It's about all the pioneering scientists for LSD and the first studies done with the drug.

**ritch** · 03-10-2012, 01:51 PM

the lsd group has 11% more success rate that the other. Not much to use something so strong. I'm pro drug yes, but not this drug for this given use. Not sure there's any medical use to lsd really.

**data** · 03-10-2012, 02:40 PM

Interesting article. This research has been known for decades.

I think we know so little about psychology that its premature to say that psychedelic drugs have no medical use.

**ebfitness** · 03-10-2012, 03:31 PM

In my younger days, I always liked LSD because I could drink an unlimited amount and not get drunk. LSD treatment would turn me into the biggest alcoholic ever! Haha, everyone's different.