'Magic mushroom' psychedelic could treat alcohol addiction, trial
finds

Psilocybin acts on receptors in the brain.

Psilocybin, the hallucinogen behind the trippy effects of "magic
mushrooms," may help people with alcohol use disorder cut down on or
stop drinking when they take the drug in conjunction with talk
therapy.

In a recent clinical trial, the results of which were published
Wednesday (Aug. 24) in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, people with
alcohol dependence received two doses of either psilocybin or a
placebo medication -- specifically, diphenhydramine (Benadryl), which
would not be expected to affect the participants' symptoms. Once
considered a distinct condition, alcohol dependence now falls under
the broader classification of alcohol use disorder, a medical
condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control
alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational or health
consequences.
...
...
Both treatment groups reduced their drinking during the 32-week trial,
but the group given psilocybin improved more dramatically. The rate of
heavy drinking in the psilocybin group dropped by about 83% compared
with pretreatment levels, compared with a drop of about 51% in the
placebo group. Eight months after receiving their first dose, 48% of
the psilocybin group had stopped drinking altogether, compared with
24% of the placebo group.

https://www.livescience.com/magic-mushroom-psilocybin-alcohol-use-trial

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