Research Growing into the Use of Psychedelics to Treat Substance Abuse

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded $2.4 million grant to a cross-disciplinary team of researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin, UC San Diego, and LSU Health Shreveport, with the purpose of studying the use of psychedelics for treating methamphetamine addiction. The five-year project will focus on the role of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor in mitigating methamphetamine use, a condition for which no pharmacological treatments currently exist.¹

“There are currently no pharmacological treatments for methamphetamine addiction. Our research aims to unravel the precise mechanisms through which psychedelics influence the 5-HT2A receptor—understanding that could lead to lessening their psychoactive effect and open the door to new treatments,” said John McCorvy, PhD, associate professor, Medical College of Wisconsin, in a press release. “This project’s findings could ultimately pave the way for new therapeutic approaches to treat stimulant use disorder, impacting the lives of so many who are coping with addiction.”

The goal of this study is to develop targeted therapies that leverage psychedelics' beneficial effects while minimizing their psychoactive adverse effects. Investigators stress that the significance of the study extends beyond the immediate goal of finding new treatments for methamphetamine addiction. Specifically, they hope to understand which serotonin receptors facilitate the beneficial effects of psychedelics, suggesting that it could lead to the development of targeted therapies that minimize psychedelic effects, potentially allowing for daily or regular use without impairing the patient’s daily life.¹

“Psychedelics appear to have significant therapeutic activity against different types of substance abuse and other psychiatric disorders,” said Adam Halberstadt, assistant professor, UC San Diego, in the press release. “However, existing psychedelics induce intensive psychoactive effects and can also induce side-effects in some individuals, complicating the clinical use of these substances and restricting their widespread application. Our project seeks to understand the mechanism for the therapeutic effects of psychedelics against methamphetamine addition, potentially enabling development of a new generation of molecules with effects that are much more manageable and better tolerated.”

According to an article published in The Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, early clinical trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy have demonstrated promise in treating alcohol dependence, opioid addiction, and other substance use disorders, suggesting that psychedelic-assisted therapy may achieve faster, more lasting results than conventional methods after just one to three sessions.

Psychedelic medicine, such as psilocybin, ketamine, and methyl​enedioxy​methamphetamine in small doses are given under medical supervision, in combination with conventional talk therapy. This offers patients the opportunity to confront hidden emotional issues and gain insights that foster recovery. Noticeably, studies have shown that when compared to a standard approach, psychedelic-assisted therapy can work at a significantly faster rate.²

“It really flips conventional substance use disorder treatment on its head,” said Dominique Morisano, PhD, University of Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, in a news release.²

The researchers stated that the urgency of this research is supported by statistics of overdose-related deaths in the United States from 2015 to 2022, which demonstrated a 500% increase, mainly driven by methamphetamine.¹

“We’re thrilled to receive this first-of-its-kind funding from NIDA to conduct such unique and innovative research. It not only validates our approach to studying psychedelics but highlights the urgent need for new treatments for methamphetamine addiction,” said McCorvy, in the press release. “Our goal is to leverage cutting-edge chemical biology tools to unravel the specific mechanisms by which psychedelics exert their effects, potentially leading to novel therapies that can significantly impact public health.”

References

1. National Institutes of Health awards $2.4 million grant to cross-disciplinary team of researchers to study psychedelics for methamphetamine addiction. EurekAlert! August 27, 2024. Accessed August 28, 2024. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1055761

2. Could psychedelic-assisted therapy change addiction treatment? EurekAlert! August 26, 2024. Accessed August 28, 2024. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1055292