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In a truly mind-bending acid flashback, a new study reports that LSD could help alcoholics kick their addiction. Based on a new analysis of six randomized controlled trials from the 1960s and 70s, and published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, researchers from Norwegian University of Science and Technology and Harvard Univeristy found that a single dose of the hallucinogen had a significant beneficial effect on alcohol misuse for up to 12 months. Dropping acid on a one-time basis also compares favorably with the effectiveness of
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Day in Health
by Lisa Collier Cool
such daily treatments for alcoholism as the FDA-approved addiction-fighting drugs naltrexone and acamporosate, the researchers report. Overall, 59 percent of the 536 study participants treated with a single dose of the psychedelic drug showed improvement in their alcohol habits, compared to 38 percent of those who didnt take LSD.
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How scientific were the studies supporting LSD as a therapy for alcohol abuse?
While treating problem drinkers with a mind-altering drug may sound counterintuitive or even crazy, all the studies analyzed were randomized clinical trials (the gold standard of scientific research), in which one group of participants received a single dose of LSD ranging from 210 mcg to 800 mcg, and another group didnt get LSD. Almost all of the participants were men who had been admitted to substance abuse centers for alcoholism. Some of those who received LSD were put in quiet rooms with flowers, music, and scenic views to promote a "good trip," while others were safely
http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/can-lsd-cure-alcoholism
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ZAMAN AKANDA
3/12/12 10:23 PM
strapped to their beds so they didnt hurt themselves while in the throes of their mindbending visions. Afterwards, all participants were monitored with urine tests or other methods to see if they remained abstinent or made progress in overcoming their dependency. The analysis found that LSD had a positive effect on the alcohol habits of people for up to six months after treatment, but the benefits disappeared after one year. The LSD could have other health benefits: those tested were also found to have reduced anxiety and less pain. RELATED SEARCHES
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Isnt giving alcoholics LSD just replacing one dependency with another?
"Psychedelics are not known to be toxic to the body or dependence-producing, says study author Pal-Orjan Johansen, who theorizes that while booze and drugs like heroin or cocaine are typically abused to elevate mood and escape problems, LSD seems to help people get insights into the issues in their lives and may aid in finding healthier ways to cope. However, since the studies that were analyzed only tracked participants over the short term, its unknown if they experienced any long-term psychological harm from dropping acid, such as recurrent flashbacks.
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