Psychedelic Drugs

While clinical trials investigate psychedelics for addiction treatment, new population-level research indicates that LSD is associated with reduced alcohol use disorder in naturalistic settings.

Scientists have observed how psilocybin rewires the brain to overcome fear. The drug coordinates the silencing of trauma neurons and the activation of safety signals to promote behavioral flexibility in mice.

A new study confirms that using MDMA leads to a significant three-day dip in mental well-being. This decline persists even when researchers account for sleep loss and the use of other substances.

Nootropic gummies, marketed as mental enhancers, are sending consumers to the hospital with seizures and vomiting. An unregulated market means these products can contain undisclosed toxic mushrooms or other potent drugs, posing a serious public health risk.

A new study details how the psychedelic psilocin excites specific neurons in the prefrontal cortex. This finding helps explain how the compound may exert its potential therapeutic effects.

A treatment for depression involving just two doses of psilocybin may have effects that last for years. A new follow-up study found that two-thirds of participants were still in remission five years after their therapy, pointing to its potential durability.

A new meta-analysis suggests LSD has a small but significant positive effect on substance use disorders. The review found inconclusive evidence for its use in treating anxiety or depression, highlighting a split in its therapeutic potential.

People who reported meaningful psychedelic experiences later showed reduced cannabis use and increased psychological flexibility. These findings suggest psychedelics might influence substance use behaviors in lasting ways, particularly when the experience is intense or transformative.

People who regularly use ayahuasca in ceremonial settings may develop more resilient psychological traits and altered emotional brain activity, according to new research exploring how long-term use of this psychedelic affects the mind and brain.

Psilocybin therapy may reduce suicidal thoughts in people with mental health diagnoses, according to a new review in Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. The analysis combined results from clinical trials and found a modest but significant reduction in suicidal ideation.

In a pilot study, physicians and nurses who took part in mindfulness training combined with psilocybin therapy experienced greater reductions in depression symptoms than those who practiced mindfulness alone, offering preliminary evidence for a new approach to burnout treatment.

A new study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology questions whether psychedelics reliably enhance creative thinking, finding that the effects of an ayahuasca-inspired formulation may actually impair some aspects of creativity while modifying others.

Researchers discovered that tabernanthalog, a non-hallucinogenic analog of psychedelic drugs, can stimulate cortical neuron growth and improve depression-related behavior in mice. The study suggests these effects occur without the gene activity or neurotransmitter surges typically linked to classic psychedelics.

A small pilot study found that a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin led to lasting reductions in depression symptoms among U.S. military veterans with treatment-resistant depression. Half were in remission after six months; 30% remained in remission at one...