The United States National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimates that over 48.5 million Americans have recently battled with a substance use disorder, with more than 10% of Americans fighting alcohol use disorder. (1)

Alcoholism alone is thought to cost the nation over $220 billion a year, and it’s one of the leading causes of death in young adults. (2) (3)

Clearly, something isn’t working. Addiction is becoming more prevalent. However, there could be an unexpected solution on the horizon: LSD. This psychedelic medicine has shown promise in supporting those with a dependency on drugs and alcohol, often with a fraction of the risks and costs associated with more traditional methods.

LSD: From Taboo to Therapeutic Tool

The idea of using LSD as a therapeutic tool is not new. In the ‘50s and ‘60s, it was studied for its effects in psychotherapy, notably in relation to alcohol dependence and mood disorders. Prohibition effectively shut down those studies and forced this promising psychedelic into the shadows, but in recent years, following a resurgence of interest in psychedelics and their therapeutic potential, it has reemerged. (4)

Researchers were convinced of its therapeutic value, but its association with the counterculture movement and potential for misuse led to a “moral panic” and classification as a Schedule I substance. (5)

The Science That Was Almost Forgotten

In 2012, researchers Krebs & Johansen performed a meta-analysis to determine the efficacy of LSD in the treatment of alcoholism. They extracted data from six clinical trials published during the ‘60s and ‘70s. The trials covered 536 participants, many of whom were alcoholics with no underlying health conditions. (6)

Participants were given LSD doses ranging from 200-800ug, and they received variable support throughout, including psychotherapy. Some were informed about the trial and the substance being administered; others were provided with very little information so as not to skew the results. Tests were conducted before and after the studies to determine the participants’ degree of alcoholism.

The analysis found that 59% of LSD-treated participants saw an improvement in their test scores, compared to just 38% for the control groups. Furthermore, after six months, scores were readministered, and 40% of the LSD-treated participants had abstained from alcohol—12% higher than the control group.

The effects had largely worn off after 12 months, with those given LSD showing similar scores to the control group, but Krebs & Johansen concluded that LSD treatment could notably reduce alcohol misuse and encourage attempts at abstinence.

It suggests that LSD can be effective from the first dose, and with continued therapy—not provided by any of the trials analyzed in this study—it could promote long-term abstinence. If LSD is combined with proper psychedelic integration therapy and used in a controlled, safe, and guided setting, it could enhance those benefits further.

This is vital information for psychedelic integration practitioners, but it’s also important to understand the individual’s needs and account for preexisting health conditions and concerns.

The Coaching Opportunity: Where Medicine Meets Meaning

Alcoholism is a complicated issue that can be rooted in various psychological issues and may present with numerous co-morbid conditions. Regardless of how effective LSD is at treating this condition, the initial diagnosis and treatment should still be provided by trained clinicians.

Psychedelic practitioners can also play a role. They can prepare the individual for a more long-term solution, support a transformative mindset shift, identify pain points, and help with the recovery process. Clinicians treat symptoms and deal with present dangers, but practitioners can step in to focus on a long-term solution, one that encourages life-long abstinence via changes in psychology and lifestyle.

Psychedelic experiences are effective because they trigger a sudden and significant shift in awareness. The individuals can be rooted in a cycle of denial; they may refuse to accept that they have an issue or simply struggle to find the motivation to overcome it. By changing their perspective, psychedelics can open new pathways in their brains and encourage them to move toward a productive, healthy future.

As meaningful as those changes can be, however, they won’t last if the experience is not properly integrated. The practitioner’s skills, experience, and guidance are essential for maintaining those benefits and setting the right course.

A Renaissance in the Making: Coaches as Change Agents

When taken “in combination with psychotherapy”, psychedelics like psilocybin produced “robust decreases in percentage of heavy drinking days” according to a Bogenschutz study from 2022. (7)

In other words, it’s not just LSD that can promote abstinence and long-term recovery.

Bogenschutz’s study showed that integrated psilocybin therapy significantly outperformed standard psychotherapy, with “no serious adverse events”. This is key when you consider that primary medications for alcohol can cause side effects ranging from pain and tiredness to irritability and confusion. Moreover, these medications, including disulfiram, don’t target the source of the problem or remove the urge to drink and simply trigger unpleasant reactions when taken with alcohol. (8)

It’s the human equivalent of a shock collar. Rather than targeting the reason that someone drinks, the triggers that give them cravings, and the social, lifestyle, and psychological issues that accompany alcoholism, it turns their addiction into a sickness. Once they make it through the withdrawals and begin the recovery process, there’s no guarantee they won’t immediately fall off the wagon.

A well-trained psychedelic practitioner, in combination with a guided LSD experience, can target those underlying issues.

If you’re aim is to offer this level of crucial support for people, consider the trainings at the Psychedelic Coaching Institute. It’s the ultimate step for coaches who want to make a difference in the world of psychedelic medicines, and it teaches everything from the ethical and legal considerations around LSD to the therapeutic benefits.

You should also read up on ibogaine, a substance often used to support those with addictions.

Conclusion: Beyond Sobriety – Toward Wholeness           

Early ideas of addiction treatment were rooted in abstinence and avoidance. Sufferers were told to suppress those feelings and abstain at all costs. But we now know that suppression doesn’t work. As anyone who has struggled with addiction will tell you, simply ignoring the urges is never enough, as there will always be something that tips you over, whether it’s a stressful life event, depression, or just boredom.

The solution lies in a change of mindset. If you can address why the addiction begins and why it continues, you can learn how to tackle it. That’s why psychedelics like LSD are so impactful, as they force a high level of introspection—a change of mindset and self-awareness.

Psychedelic coaching focuses on encouraging change and healing, which may ultimately support someone in coming out of addiction. LSD changes their perception and self-awareness, and the practitioner expands on what they have learned and helps them through the integration and recovery process.

It’s a game-changer for the millions of Americans who struggle with addiction, and while it won’t work for everyone, the aforementioned studies suggest that it could be more effective than many traditional approaches.

If you’re ready to be a part of the solution, check out the trainings offered by the Psychedelic Coaching Institute.