Classic and non‐classic psychedelics for substance use disorder: A review of their historic, past and current research
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review without systematic search or formal quality synthesis
OpenAlex W4283324512 · doi:10.1016/j.addicn.2022.100025
What was done
A non-systematic review examined historical and contemporary clinical and observational studies published up to December 2021 evaluating classic psychedelics (LSD, DMT, psilocybin, mescaline) and non-classic psychedelics (ibogaine, ketamine, MDMA, salvinorin A, THC) for the treatment of substance use disorders (SUD).
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data or effect sizes. Qualitatively, the authors describe moderate evidence supporting psilocybin and ketamine for alcohol use disorder, ketamine for opioid and alcohol withdrawal management, and THC preparations for reducing cannabis and possibly opioid withdrawal symptoms. Results for LSD, DMT, mescaline, MDMA, and salvinorin A remain inconclusive. The literature suggests psychedelics are most effective as adjunct therapies.
Why it matters
This paper maps current clinical literature on various psychedelic compounds across SUD indications, identifying psilocybin and ketamine as compounds with relatively stronger preliminary support.
Limits
The review is explicitly non-systematic, lacking formalized search criteria, quality appraisal, and meta-analytic pooling. The abstract provides no quantitative metrics, participant totals, or study counts.
Cited by
- context President Richard Nixon passed the Controlled Substances Act, which placed all psychedelic drugs into Schedule I.