Study Shows Psychedelics Can Help Longtime Smokers Quit for Years

According to a recent study published in the Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, combining psychedelics and talk therapy is an effective method for helping long-term smokers quit.

The study was performed by researchers from the University of Cincinnati, who examined post-treatment journals from participants in a 2014 smoking cessation study, MedicalXpress reports.

Psychedelics Made Long-time Smokers Quit

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University found in a 2014 study that participants who used psilocybin, the active hallucinogenic ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms, in pairing with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) were significantly more likely to be successful at quitting smoking than those who tried conventional methods.

According to NHS UK, the goal of CBT is to help patients explore and change how they think about their lives, as well as to free themselves from unhelpful patterns of behavior. A course may consist of 5 to 20 sessions, each lasting 30 to 60 minutes.

In the recent study, analysis of the participants' words revealed that psychedelics and talk therapy helped long-term smokers recognize themselves as non-smokers.

This new core identity may help explain why eighty percent of participants were able to quit smoking for six months, and sixty percent remained smoke-free after five years.

Neşe Devenot, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cincinnati and the study's lead author, stated that the findings demonstrate the potential for psychedelics to reshape self-perceptions to help people overcome old habits or addictions in the face of daily triggers and temptations.

Only 15 participants comprised the experiment's sample size, but the researchers consider the results are encouraging. Participants reported feeling fundamentally different and described the experience as a metamorphosis.

Devenot also points out that individuals frequently respond to stressors and other triggers similarly, becoming mired in repetitive behavior patterns. She compares it to a skier using the same grooved path down the mountain they have used a thousand times before.

A Study Overview

This study examines the use of the drug psilocybin to help smokers in quitting. According to the Alcohol Drug and Foundation, psilocybin or magic mushrooms occur naturally and are consumed for their hallucinogenic properties. They are psychedelic drugs, which can alter a person's cognition, perception of time, and emotions.

The researchers wanted to determine the efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy sessions for smoking cessation. They examined the instructions given to the therapists and the participants' reported experiences.

They discovered that therapy sessions combined with the effects of psilocybin helped individuals alter their self-perception and sense of self. This change in identity assisted them in quitting smoking.

As more and more people use psychedelics for therapy, the researchers say it is crucial to ensure that the therapy is conducted safely and ethically. They want to ensure patients feel empowered to make positive changes in their lives and control their experiences.

Australia Approves Use of Psychedelics

Australia has recently acknowledged two potent psychoactive substances as medicines. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will allow MDMA and psilocybin to be used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, respectively, beginning on July 1.

The Australian Health Department has clarified that only psychiatrists will be authorized to issue drug prescriptions because they have the knowledge and expertise to diagnose and treat individuals with severe mental health issues.

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