Psilocybin Trial Shows Reduced Cocaine Use in Small Study

A randomized controlled trial examined whether a single dose of psilocybin could reduce cocaine use in people with cocaine addiction. The study followed 40 participants for 180 days after treatment. Researchers reported that 30 percent of participants who received psilocybin reported complete abstinence from cocaine at the six-month mark.

None of the participants who received the placebo reported complete abstinence during the same period. Participants who continued to use cocaine after receiving psilocybin did so less frequently than those in the placebo group. The trial was conducted after more than a decade of preparation.

No medication has been approved for treating cocaine addiction despite substantial investment in drug development. Cocaine use has risen in the United States and in other countries. Psychedelic compounds have been studied for other conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, alcohol use disorder, and smoking cessation.

The current trial is the first to test this class of compounds specifically for cocaine addiction.

The trial measured outcomes at multiple time points up to 180 days after a single administration. Researchers tracked both complete abstinence and frequency of use among participants who did not achieve abstinence. Further studies with larger participant groups will be needed to confirm the findings and assess long-term safety and efficacy.