Scientists want to help drug addicts recover — by giving them psychedelics

In a twist that might make your head spin faster than a record at a 1960s party, scientists are now exploring the idea of helping drug addicts recover — by giving them more drugs. Yes, you read that correctly. But before you start imagining a government-sponsored rave, let’s dive into what’s really going on.

From party to therapy

Psychedelic substances, those mind-bending, reality-distorting compounds that were once the darlings of the counterculture movement, are making a serious comeback — not in dingy basements with lava lamps and tie-dye, but in clinical settings. Researchers are giving these “party drugs” a second chance, this time as potential lifesavers for those struggling with addiction.
Psychedelics, for those who skipped the wild 60s or prefer their evenings unenhanced by hallucinogens, are substances that can dramatically alter a person’s perceptions and thoughts. Indigenous cultures have been onto these tricks for millennia, using psychedelic plants in spiritual rituals and healing practices. Western researchers briefly flirted with the idea in the mid-20th century, but their romance with psychedelics fizzled out once the United States government’s “war on drugs” crashed the party.

The great psychedelic revival

Fast forward to today, and psychedelics are getting a second look. Drugs like psilocybin (the active ingredient in those famous “magic mushrooms”), ketamine, and MDMA (yes, ecstasy) are being studied as part of a treatment approach known as psychedelic-assisted therapy. The basic idea is to administer these drugs in small, controlled doses under medical supervision, and then follow up with some good old-fashioned talk therapy.

Incredibly, results are actually promising at the moment — at least in small trials. Researchers have found that psychedelic-assisted therapy can help people with alcohol dependence, opioid addiction, and other substance use disorders achieve higher rates of abstinence than traditional therapy alone. What’s more, the effects are fast. While conventional treatment might take months, patients in these trials have reported lasting benefits after just one to three sessions. Yes, you could be on your way to sobriety faster than it takes to binge-watch a season of your favourite show.

The science behind it

But how, you might wonder, isn’t drug-assisted therapy like throwing a drowning person a glass of water? According to addiction expert Dominique Morisano people with substance use disorders often use drugs to hide from their inner demons. Psychedelic-assisted therapy, on the other hand, seems to “lift the veil” and give people insights — those “lightbulb moments” that can spark real change.
When on these mind-changing drugs, patients might suddenly feel empowered, better able to cope with their emotions, and more motivated to make healthier choices. While no one knows exactly how psychedelics pull off this trick, one theory is that they promote “neuroplasticity” — basically, rewiring the brain in a way that supports recovery.

Don’t try this at home, kids

Now, before you go out and buy a ticket to the next music festival with plans to heal your soul, it’s important to note that this isn’t a DIY solution. The therapy part of psychedelic-assisted therapy is crucial — think of it as the safety net that makes the whole high-wire act possible. Morisano warns against the growing trend of “microdosing” on your own, emphasising that the psychotherapy component is key to the treatment’s success.

In other words, like any powerful medicine, they need to be used correctly. And that means under the guidance of professionals, with a lot more research to figure out which substances and protocols work best.

The findings of this research have been published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs and can be accessed here.