Residential Psychedelic (LSD) Therapy for the Narcotic Addict
Archives of General Psychiatry June 1, 1973 DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.1973.01750360040005 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA controlled trial assigned 78 volunteer inmates with chronic heroin abuse to either a six-week residential program that included a single high-dose LSD session or to an outpatient clinic with daily urine checks and weekly group therapy. Among the 37 completers in each group, verified abstinence during the first year after discharge was significantly higher in the residential psychedelic therapy group.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 78 |
| Population | Volunteer addict inmates from Maryland correctional institutions with chronic heroin abuse |
| Dose | one high-dose LSD administration |
| Duration | Six-week intervention, 12-month follow-up |
| Keywords | Abstinence Medicine Sobriety Heroin Psychiatry |
| Citations | 150 |
| Key finding | Verified abstinence throughout the first posttreatment year was significantly in favor of the treatment group that received brief residential psychedelic (LSD) psychotherapy. |
Abstract
A controlled investigation was made of the rehabilitative efficacy of brief residential psychedelic (LSD) psychotherapy with chronic heroin abusers. Seventy-eight volunteer addict inmates from Maryland correctional institutions were randomly assigned to the following: a treatment condition–psychedlic therapy (incorporating one high-dose LSD administration) during a six weeks residence in a halfway house type of facility; or a control condition–an outpatient clinic program including daily urine monitoring and weekly group psychotherapy. All subjects (37 completers in each group) were treated identically save for the initial six-week period of residential treatment. Major outcome criteria were based on evaluative assessments (including daily urine surveillance) of the treatment and control groups covering the 12 months following discharge to the community. Comparative verified abstinence data throughout the first posttreatment year were significantly in favor of the treatment group.