LSD for alcoholism?

[Otter]

LSD for alcoholism?

No, you know me because I gave you my name.

[Otter]

LSD for alcoholism?

dustbin;1281068 wrote: Are we going to continue this?

You are the one with Vit D and autism and amygdala posts. Plus local newspaper coverage.

Delete this and I will stop.

[emiliakellerhouse]

LSD for alcoholism?

I used Ibogaine treatment and it helped me.

[anne1232]

LSD for alcoholism?

Welcome!

Can you tell us about it? How helpful was your experience?

[TimberTim]

I came across this old thread. I have taken LSD, but it was along time ago. I wouldn't even know where to buy it. What I do remember is that we were drinking beer, but there certainly was no desire to consume large amounts of it. I certainly would not recommend it on a daily basis. You would fry your brain!

There is my two cents worth.

[spiritwolf333]

Hi Tim thanks for reviving this thread.

I recall one national tv station interviewing some folks who had taken LSD in controlled environments. Additionally, I have read many articles that read of the success of LSD for alcohol abuse disorders (AUD):

2012: http://healthland.time.com/2012/03/0...at-alcoholism/
"Given the evidence for a beneficial effect of LSD on alcoholism, it is puzzling why this treatment approach has been largely overlooked," they added.

2012: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0308224524.htm

"Several decades ago, a number of clinics used LSD to treat alcoholism with some success. But until now, no research has pulled together the results of these trials to document exactly how effective LSD was. Now a new meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of the drug, available in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, published by SAGE, provides evidence for a clear and consistent beneficial effect of LSD for treating alcohol dependency"

Ok, enough quotes. Many of you may remember that Bill Wilson, cofounder of AA, tried LSD and said that it may be of immense value in treating alcoholics. Furthermore, Dr. Gabriel Mote has promoted another substance very similar to LSD.

LSD is proven not to be addictive. This being the case, why would one not try LSD or Ayahuasca in a controlled environment (Dr.. Mote) to help with there alcoholism? (http://www.alternet.org/drugs/gabor-...onference-2013).

Closed mindedness prior to investigation still baffles me to this day.

Perhaps, only total desperation allows one to sufficiently open his or her mind to new possibilities? You talk to a desperate alcoholics and you will find that he or she is willing to try anything.

[Samstone]

yeah, ok....
as a veteran for use of both, this is not a practical application, pretty novel idea, though

[spiritwolf333]

yeah, ok....
as a veteran for use of both, this is not a practical application, pretty novel idea, though

Hi Sam -Perhaps some medications work better for some and not so good for others. Of course, I agree with you, my personal experience is my indicator. There are many positive reports on the web regarding 'controlled' programs using LSD. Just a thought.

JULY 2012: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22406913

Abstract"Assessments of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in the treatment of alcoholism have not been based on quantitative meta-analysis. Hence, we performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in order to evaluate the clinical efficacy of LSD in the treatment of alcoholism. Two reviewers independently extracted the data, pooling the effects using odds ratios (ORs) by a generic inverse variance, random effects model. We identified six eligible trials, including 536 participants. There was evidence for a beneficial effect of LSD on alcohol misuse (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.36-2.84; p = 0.0003). Between-trial heterogeneity for the treatment effects was negligible (I² = 0%). Secondary outcomes, risk of bias and limitations are discussed. A single dose of LSD, in the context of various alcoholism treatment programs, is associated with a decrease in alcohol misuse."

[spiritwolf333]

http://www.ntnu.edu/news/2012-news/lsd

Sobered up using LSD
(09.03.2012) Forty years ago, LSD was used in the treatment of alcoholics - with good results. Perhaps it's time to look at it again?

The results of all of the studies the pair examined pointed in the same direction, which Krebs and Johansen say is quite clear: A single dose of LSD, provided for treatment purposes, helped heavy alcoholics and made it less likely that they would relapse.

"There has long been a need for better treatments for addiction. We think it is time to look at the use of psychedelics in treating various conditions," the researchers say.

536 alcoholics
The Norwegian researchers found six different studies of LSD and alcoholism that were scientifically sound, in which patients were randomly assigned, as if by tossing a coin, to receive either LSD or a comparison treatment. They combined all the data from these studies, involving a total of 536 people – the first such rigorous quantitative analysis in the world.

All of the studies were conducted either in the U.S. or Canada between 1966 and 1970. The studies all involved individuals who were admitted to treatment for alcoholism and who voluntarily participated in the trials. Nearly all were men.

Within each of the studies all patients were given the same treatment programme. But on one treatment day some patients were given a single large dose of LSD, while control patients received a low dose of LSD or a stimulant drug - or nothing. In some studies, during the duration of the drug effects, patients talked with a therapist, while in other studies, patients received only brief reassurance if they wanted. But all were encouraged to reflect on their alcohol problem.

Clear improvements - greater opportunities
"In independent and standardized follow-up examinations, ranging from one to twelve months later, all of the studies showed that the patients who had received a full dose of LSD fared the best. On average, 59 per cent of full-dose patients showed a clear improvement compared with 38 per cent in the other groups," say Krebs and Johansen.

LSD patients were less likely to relapse into problematic alcohol use and had higher levels of total abstinence. In some studies their relatives also reported the same findings. Many of the patients said they had gained a new appreciation for their alcohol problem and new motivation to address it.


Affects the brain
"We do not yet fully know why LSD works this way," the researchers admit. "But we know that the substance is non-toxic and that it is not addictive. We also know that it has a striking effect on imagination, perception and memories."

The researchers explain that LSD interacts with a specific type of serotonin receptor in the brain.

"LSD may stimulate the formation of new connections and patterns, and generally seems to open an individual to an awareness of new perspectives and opportunities for action," they say.

Not followed up
By 1971 LSD had been banned for non-medical use, and although the drug was and is still permitted as an experimental medical treatment, it became increasingly difficult to conduct clinical trials. Despite the promising studies, LSD was claimed to have no demonstrated medical use. There may be several reasons for this, the researchers explained.

"But when we combine studies that had sound methodology, the results are unambiguous. We can therefore safely conclude that a single dose of LSD had a positive treatment effect that lasted at least six months," Krebs and Johansen said.

"It is unusual for psychiatric drugs to have an effect that lasts for several months after a single dose. We now better understand that alcoholism is a chronic, relapsing disorder that typically requires ongoing treatment. The next step should be to periodically provide additional doses of LSD in combination with modern evidence-based treatment programs," the researchers conclude.

The meta-analysis is being published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

The work was financed by the Research Council of Norway and conducted during a research stay at Harvard Medical School. Krebs and Johansen are currently affiliated with the Department of Neuroscience at NTNU.

[Roberta Jewell]

Great source for info and research on this topic is www.maps.org. Suggested read: Acid Test by Tom Shroder. Excellent.

I have many thoughts of this and may contribute more later.

RJ

[spiritwolf333]

RJ -your information provided led me to research other information relevant to LSD for alcoholism. I found the following video quite fascinating:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEHR8suvHPM (CNN)

For medications for alcoholism to continue, it will require a minority of people to believe that there are many potential approaches to curing this disease. We need to all continue to try and accept that there is not just one cure.

Respectfully,
SW

[anne1232]

In various "Bill W." biographies it is clear that he got finally sober through the use of LSD, legal at the time, and with the insights he had; developed the 12 Steps

[spiritwolf333]

Not all medications work the same for everyone. As such, I personally take the stance that I can not denounce any particular medication for alcoholism -whether it worked for me or not. I can only report my experience -in just the same way that many of you do. I have read many positive articles regarding LSD in the treatment of addictions -so there has to be 'something' to be learned?

ARTICLE:

"It’s a major breakthrough that could have individuals afflicted with alcoholism turning to LSD in attempt to curb their addiction.
According to two new studies, scientists have cracked the molecular structures of two of the brain’s serotonin receptors, which play a key role in regulating mood, perception, appetite, and sleep. The findings, presented by a team of researchers from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill."

http://www.sciencerecorder.com/news/study-lsd-may-help-treat-alcoholism/

[Lostinspace]

I could be way off base, but my understanding of using professionally guided LSD to counter alcoholism is that the person is guided to consider their lives as an alcoholic while having their trippy experience. This somehow opens up deeper levels of understanding of just how harmful drinking can be, and how much better off the person would be without it. It touches them on a deeper level than what their day to day lives do. Simply using LSD recreationally, or haphazardly by yourself, would do nothing. Also, from what I remember, the effects from LSD-guided treatment last approximately six months, after which the person has to either undergo the treatment again, or find another way out of their drinking problem. Again, this is only my understanding, based on what I read about it a really long time ago. I've never personally tried it.

[spiritwolf333]

The new and improved research involving LSD to treat addictions and anxiety is becoming more wide spread.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4086777/

Abstract:
A double-blind, randomized, active placebo-controlled pilot study was conducted to examine safety and efficacy of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)-assisted psychotherapy in 12 patients with anxiety associated with life-threatening diseases. Treatment included drug-free psychotherapy sessions supplemented by two LSD-assisted psychotherapy sessions 2 to 3 weeks apart.

CONCLUSIONS:
This pilot study in participants with anxiety associated with the diagnosis of a life-threatening illness has demonstrated safety in 22 psychotherapy sessions assisted by 200 μg of LSD with no drug-related severe adverse events. Group comparison results support positive trends in reduction of anxiety after two sessions of LSD-assisted psychotherapy, with effect size estimates in the range of 1.1 to 1.2. In view of promising historical studies with adjunctive LSD treatment in this population and a recent promising study using psilocybin (Grob et al., 2011), as well as the urgent need for more effective treatments of anxiety in these participants, further study is warranted into the potential of LSD-assisted psychotherapy.