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."

Comments

Go figure

[Hatta]

Yet another Schedule 1 drug with actual medical applications. Is there any part of the war on drug users that isn't based on lies?

Re:Go figure

[six025]

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

No!

Re:Go figure

[TheCarp]

Not just lies but misinformation. I mean, LSD is often a far more exotic of a drug to the people who haven't done it than have. It isn't habbit forming. In fact, after a trip, I often said that if someone put more acid in front of me and suggested I do it again, I might punch them. At its best its long and draining, physically and emotionally. Do some people go crazy and do it every day? Sure, but they are hardly the norm.

Don't get me wrong, I saw some people have some difficult times, and see things that sounded far more amazing than anything I ever saw. And I have seen it change lives.

I had a friend who had a few very difficult experiences. He was a bit religious, and talked of seeing deamons around him and being convinced he was going to die. Took him a long time to get over that. Though, it also was the catalyst that changed his life, to become a better person, to get off the myriad of drugs he was using and get a career instead of going into his 20s as a petty crook on his way to jail.

So do I think it can cure alcoholism? No. I think its a tool that could be used to gain perspective and insight and to become invested in change. That may very well be what enables a person to change... however, I don't think its a magic switch... and it might be a difficult ride.

Actually LSD has been used in this manner, I highly recomend "LSD Psychotherapy" by Stanislav Groff. Excellent book on the subject, where clinics have been run outside the US for many years. However, its not just "LSD does the work", it is the entire therapy session surrounding it that guides it.

Re:Go figure

[cayenne8]

Acid: Melts in your mind, not in your hand....

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

[Higgins_Boson]

Misinformation.

The only people who had trips that bad were the ones who ABUSED it heavily, did more than they should have or just tripped in the wrong setting or had underlying psychological disorders to begin with, in which case they needed a controlled dose and not a dose from some dude off the street.

As for FDA approval.. have you EVER watched a commercial for an FDA approved drug? Nice, harmless side-effects like cancer, organ failure, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, blindness, heart failure, brain damage, impotency, birth defects, peripheral neuropathy, weight gain, weight loss, coma, death.

Yeah... you keep counting on those corrupt assholes in the FDA. I will take my chances with the shady looking guy on the corner.

Re:Go figure

[19thNervousBreakdown]

That's ridiculous. I've known a lot of people who have done acid. A lot of people who've done lots of acid. I've been to acid parties. I've hosted acid parties. All of this is to say, I've got some experience with it. And I've never had a flashback. I've asked many former users, directly, "have you ever had a flashback?" Not a single person has ever said "yes" or even "maybe".

Don't get me wrong, it's got some (semi?) permanent effects--primarily, you will never forget the first time you really trip. I've also noticed that decisions made while tripping seem to "stick" more. At least for me. In my early 20s, I told myself a hundred times that I need to slow down, but somehow when it came time to party I was always up for it. Then, once, I came to the same conclusion while tripping. After that, the temptation to party when I shouldn't was greatly decreased. I can't really explain it, it was just easy to just have a couple beers and go to bed at 2:00 AM instead of getting hammered and staying up until dawn. I didn't even really feel like I was missing out like I did before. It helped me get over an ex-girlfriend that I was being a dramatic teenager about. One night--bam--"hey, she doesn't like you, deal with it, there's plenty of girls out there" and I woke up the next day and it was like I'd been single for a year. It also showed me that there's definite limits to how fucked up I enjoy being.

There was also other stuff. I'd get a phrase stuck in my head while tripping, and then find myself overusing it for weeks after. Cigarettes had that "acid" feel for a couple days (smokers who have tripped will know what I mean), and weed would make me feel like I was tripping, sometimes a week or more later although that could have been my imagination. I think it permanently gave me a better sense of perspective and empathy, and it gave me the "feel" for looking at a problem from a different angle. The "feel" thing is hard to explain too--it's like how when you're learning to water-ski, when you start out, you don't know how things are supposed to feel in order to stay up. Once you've done it though, you know what you're aiming for. Any potential negative effects aside (I really can't say I have any, but then again how would I know?), it's absolutely had a net positive effect on my life.

But one thing I've definitely never experienced or heard of anyone experiencing, is a flashback. Ask anyone--the most frequent response you'll get is, "Damn, I wish."

Makes sense

[GameboyRMH]

They'll stop the first time they see their booze bottles as screaming fanged monsters.

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:Makes sense

[cjb658]

My name is Bob and I'm an LSD addict - formerly an alcoholic.

Other results not mentioned

[Nidi62]

The study also found a 47% increase in believing they could fly and 39% increase in the belief that they were covered in spiders over that of the placebo group.

Placebo?

[Anonymous Coward]

Placebo? Really? What possible placebo can you give somebody that they won't figure out it wasn't LSD?

I used to take acid all the time

[Nyder]

Man, those were the good old days, when acid was plentiful (the 80's). I really miss taking acid. They said I'd get flashbacks when I got older, which I am still waiting for. I mean, free acid trips? I'm down. Except they aren't happening.

I want some mother loving acid, LSD, shit, i'll even eat the brown acid from woodstock. Prefer liquid, but I'll take blotter, 4 way, gels, whatever you got.

Tune in, Turn on, Drop out.

One of my best trips was when I took some liquid acid, 2 drops, and 20 mins later, i'm watching these crab aliens rip up my ceiling, while blood was dripping down the wall. Not only was I not scared, I was loving it. I don't lose reality on acid, and this was by far the best show ever. I kept thinking my roommate wanted to sleep with (like I really want to have sex on acid, not!), she thought I was the devil, and we were really fucked up.

I would love to take acid again, but I have no idea where to get it. Guess I can go find some hippies somewhere...

While acid isn't for everyone, 'cause some of you are crazy upstairs, most everyone should take it. It opens your mind to other ways of thinking, and honestly, most the world needs to open their minds and wake the fuck up.

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

Re:meh

[brainzach]

Why would they have to do the experiment in a sterile lab environment?

You can minimize the chances of a bad trip by conducting the test in a more comfortable environment and have a counselor guide the patient through the experience. It will probably be much more positive and effective treatment than giving a guy a lot of acid and locking him in the room for 12 hours.

Psychadelics need to be studied, and used properly

[Anonymous Coward]

Damn, I wish.

I did lots of acid in my twenties.. For example, LSD has 100% tolerance increase, but it only lasts for a few days, if that. For example, in those days I had lots of it around.. and it was quality. trip on 1 hit on day 1. On day 2 it takes 2 for the same level of trip. (everyone knows every trip is different, but the same perceived strength). 3rd day it took 4, then 8, etc...I routinely went to 8, 16, as high as 32 more than once and I never have had a flashback. I have had similar feelings here and there when exposed to marijuana, but never what could be called a "flashback" as I've heard them described. And it already has a built-in prevention for long-term abuse, as if that is even a real possibility to begin with..

These days I wouldnt trip, just because it such an intense experience and requires such a commitment of time and emotion that I am just not willing to go there.. As far as the benefits of LSD, I would put it this way.. "it forces introspection.". Whatever is bugging you, small concerns needling you, particularly issues if self-consciousness, are brought out and you have no choice but to face them. You can't hide from yourself.. I think in this way it makes sense that it could treat alcoholism.. as could any number of psychadelics..

I truly believe that psychadelics should be something that is embraced by a society and its culture. There should be people experimenting, documenting, and prescribing them. Bad trips are REALLY REALLY bad, but in the proper setting, completely manageable.. just remind yourself that the trip is temporary, and talk them down.. if there were people around who acted as the equivalent of shamen, we could take all of these psychadelic substances and properly utilize them. Aren't we mature enough yet as a civilization that we can quit pretending like psychadelic substances are so dangerous that just possession of them can be punishable by decades in a penitentiary?!

It's fscking ridiculous.. we cant even legalize marijuana, but sell cigarettes and alcohol on every corner. I suspect that many would agree with me, but until we can get out and vote and put people with similar rational and open minds in our government nothing will change.