According
to a Norwegian study Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (most commonly known as LSD)
may help people
who suffer from alcoholism.
The
psychedelic drug was used to treat alcoholics in the 1960’s, and had
significant beneficial effects. Sorrowfully, scientist couldn’t go farther in
their investigation as the drug was considered illicit.
No
matter what, researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology looked
back at those studies and conducted six randomized controlled trials studies
with 536 participants; revealing that a
single dose of LSD had considerable beneficial effect on alcohol abuse, which
last between six and twelve months after taken the hallucinogen. For the group
of patients that take LSD, 59 per cent showed reduced levels of alcohol abuse
compared with 38 per cent in the other group. The ones who take LSD reported
higher levels of abstinence.
How
does the psychedelic drug work?
LSD
interacts with a specific type of serotonin receptors in the brain (which are part of the frontal lobe, one of the parts of the brain that
involve high-level of cognitive function), which may stimulate to new
connections and open the mind for new perspectives and possibilities. Psychedelic
drugs are not known to be addictive or toxic to the body, but the LSD has
striking effects on imagination, perception, and memories and can elicit
periods of intense anxiety and confusion. (http://www.quora.com/LSD/How-does-LSD-work)
Concerning the lasting effects o the LSD experience in alcoholics,
investigators of the trial noted, “It was rather common for patients to claim
significant insights into their probles, to feel that they had been givena new
lease on life, and to make a strong resolution to discontinue their drinking.” And investigators of another trial noted,
"It was not unusual for patients following their LSD experience to become
much more self-accepting, to show greater openness and accessibility, and to adopt
a more positive, optimistic view of their capacities to face future
problems."
Despite the fact that, it seems to be a very
interesting way of quitting alcoholism a farther study need to be done in order
to obtain information about the posterior results of consuming this drug.
Which one do you think it is the consequence of using one
drug to fight the addiction against another drug? It is a good idea or the patient will end up
being addict of the second one?
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I'm strongly convinced that substituiting an addictive substance for another addictive drug is not the solution. People are more likely to help themselves by taking desitions that they heard somewhere without any professional guidance. We have to avoid this practice by consulting the people who are the well-known in this area. Is very important to know the pros and cons that replacing alcohol for LSD can provide you.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, it is very important knowing the pros and cons of taking one medication or another in order to get better. But if trials are not conducted we will never know the benefits that some drugs may have on us.
DeletePersonally, I think it is a terrible idea. What is the point of fighting one drug addiction if you are incentivating another one? As far as I know, psychodelic drugs are not physically addictive, but they are certainly mentally addictive. If a patient who is receiving treatment for alcoholism is exposed to another drug, he is likely to become addicted to the new one.
ReplyDeleteCommenting on Pablo's opinion, I see his point, but I'm not sure about the "without professional guidance" part. I strongly believe that drug addicts need professional help to overcome their problems given that experts are the ones that know how to handle possible psychological problems that may arise.