A psychedelic brew from the Amazon may help alcoholics and drug addicts quit

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-07-26 03:00

Australia; NSW; VIC

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The traditional psychedelic Amazonian brew ayahuasca may help people with drug and alcohol problems quit, according to international scientists, including Australians. They surveyed 8,629 ayahuasca users on the internet, and say the more people had used ayahuasca, the less likely they were to drink alcohol or use drugs, and the effect was strongest among ayahuasca users who had previous problems with substance abuse. People who reported more spiritual experiences and greater personal insights while tripping on ayahuasca, and those who imbibed ayahuasca as part of an 'ayahuasca church' group were also among the least likely to be currently using alcohol or other drugs, the researchers say. Ayahuasca is traditionally made using a vine called Banisteriopsis caapi, which contains the powerful psychedelic dimethyltryptamine (DMT), along with other plants thought to enhance the effects of DMT.