Section - Quick Takes

04. Are Psychedelics Effective for Treating Substance Use Disorders?

Published on June 1, 2025 Certification expiration date: June 1, 2028

David A. Gorelick, M.D., Ph.D., D.L.F.A.P.A., F.A.S.A.M.

Professor of Psychiatry - University of Maryland School of Medicine

Key Points

Current evidence remains insufficient to support the use of psychedelics for substance use disorders in routine clinical practice. Psilocybin has the most supportive data for alcohol use disorder, though it is of moderate quality.
The evidence quality is generally low, with significant risk of bias due to poor blinding. Only half of identified studies were RCTs, with 44% conducted over 50 years ago under less rigorous standards.
Consider ketamine only as last resort for patients who failed adequate trials of FDA-approved medications for alcohol/opioid use disorders.

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SUD: High Prevalence, Limited Treatment Efficacy

Substance use disorders (SUD) are a major clinical and public health burden. In the United States, a nationally representative community-based epidemiological survey estimated that in 2023, 82.4 million Americans aged 12 years and older had a substance use disorder. This broke down as:

28.9 million with alcohol use disorder
23.6 million with tobacco use disorder
19.2 million with cannabis use disorder
5.9 million with opioid use disorder including heroin
4.8 million with stimulant use disorder including cocaine and amphetamine-type stimulants

Despite this burden, our current treatments — whether pharmacologic, psychosocial, or combined — remain suboptimal. About half of patients do not respond adequately. This efficacy gap has sparked interest in novel therapeutic strategies.

Psychedelics Resurface in Psychiatry

One new treatment approach that has generated substantial buzz is the use of psychedelic drugs. You’re probably familiar with classic psychedelic drugs such as LSD and psilocybin

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05. The Neuroscience Behind Tea’s Effects on Mental Health

Learning Objectives:

After completing this activity, the learner will be able to:

Identify key strategies for selecting antipsychotics in first-episode psychosis based on the presence or absence of violence to guide appropriate treatment decisions.
Describe the multiple temporal patterns of antidepressant side effects, including which symptoms may persist despite overall reduction in side effect burden.
Evaluate the relationship between psychiatric medication polypharmacy and torsades de pointes risk.
Assess the current evidence quality for psychedelic treatments in substance use disorders and identify appropriate clinical context for their potential use.
Recognize the potential mechanisms by which tea compounds may influence neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Original Release Date: June 1, 2025

Expiration Date: June 1, 2028

Experts: Scott Beach, M.D., Paul Zarkowski, M.D., David Gorelick, M.D., Oliver Freudenreich, M.D. & Derick Vergne, M.D.

Medical Editors: Flavio Guzmán, M.D. & Sebastián Malleza M.D.

Relevant Financial Disclosures:

Oliver Freudenreich declares the following interests:

– Alkermes: Research grant, consultant honoraria

– Janssen: Research grant, consultant honoraria

– Otsuka: Research grant

– Karuna: Research grant, consultant honoraria

– Neurocrine: Consultant honoraria

– Vida: Consultant honoraria

– American Psychiatric Association: Consultant honoraria

– Medscape: Honoraria

– Elsevier: Honoraria

– Wolters-Kluwer: Royalties

– UpToDate: Royalties, honoraria

All of the relevant financial relationships listed above have been mitigated by Medical Academy and the Psychopharmacology Institute.

None of the other faculty, planners, and reviewers for this educational activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose during the last 24 months with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Contact Information: For questions regarding the content or access to this activity, contact us at support@psychopharmacologyinstitute.com

Instructions for Participation and Credit:

Participants must complete the activity online during the valid credit period that is noted above.

Follow these steps to earn CME credit:

View the required educational content provided on this course page.
Complete the Post Activity Evaluation for providing the necessary feedback for continuing accreditation purposes and for the development of future activities. NOTE: Completing the Post Activity Evaluation after the quiz is required to receive the earned credit.
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Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of Medical Academy LLC and the Psychopharmacology Institute. Medical Academy is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians

Credit Designation Statement

Medical Academy designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.