A study led by Imperial College London will investigate if there is a role for psilocybin in the treatment of opioid addiction. It is reportedly the first time research involving psilocybin-assisted therapy to treat substance addiction will be financially backed by the UK Government.
Despite the UK having one of the highest rates of opioid use in the world, treatment for addiction to opioid drugs such as heroin and tramadol, especially on the NHS, is limited to substitution therapy – where users are given a similar but “less harmful” opioid such as methadone – and talking therapy which is often offered alongside substitution treatment. These methods have proved to be ineffective, as a high number of people relapse within a year of finishing treatment.
“We know that up to 90% of people relapse back to opioid use within 12 months of finishing detox, so finding new and effective treatments is essential,” said Dr David Erritzoe, Clinical Director and Deputy Head of the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London in a press release. “If this trial is successful, it offers hope for a new type of treatment that could make a significant difference to this group of people.”
To broaden the spectrum of treatment options for people dependent on opioids, researchers will focus on the psychedelic substance psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms such as the Liberty Cap. Studies involving psilocybin have produced promising results over the past decade, as the psychedelic has shown promise as a novel treatment for a range of physical and mental health issues such as depression, eating disorders, chronic pain, trauma, relationship problems, arthritis and addiction.
“This trial will examine whether we can improve recovery in a severely under-served group of people – namely, those with opioid dependence during their most vulnerable post-detox phase. Clinical studies, including those in our Centre for Psychedelic Research, have shown great promise for this type of treatment in other mental health conditions. We want to see if it works equally well for opioid use disorder,” said Dr Louise Paterson from Imperial College London’s Centre for Psychedelics Research.
The study will involve a cohort of people who are recovering from addiction to street opioids such as heroin, and those on heroin replacement options such as methadone and buprenorphine receiving doses of psilocybin and attending talking therapy sessions for six months following the first dose. Participants will also undergo MRI scans so researchers can better understand how the brain behaves whilst under the influence of psilocybin.
The study is one of four projects focused on reducing drug deaths to be funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research as part of the Addiction Healthcare Goals programme, led by the Office for Life Science.
Professor Anne Lingford-Hughes, Chair of the Addiction Healthcare Goals programme and Professor of Addiction Biology at Imperial said “New approaches to treat drug addiction and reduce drug related deaths, particularly from overdose, are urgently needed. The Addiction Healthcare Goals programme is pleased to fund promising innovations that have brought together partnerships between industry, academia and organisations involved in delivering treatment and care for those experiencing drug addictions.”
Recruitment of participants is expected to start by the spring of 2025.
This story first appeared on leafie, view here
Author: Kevin Dinneen
