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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