Psilocybin Therapy: A New Hope for Opioid Addiction Recovery
Imperial researchers are set to explore the potential of psilocybin therapy in drug recovery through a landmark clinical trial.
This groundbreaking trial, the first of its kind in the UK, has secured funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the Government’s Office for Life Sciences. Led by Imperial College London, the study will investigate whether psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, combined with psychological support, can help prevent relapse in individuals who have struggled with opioids, including FYL.
Dr. David Erritzoe from the Centre for Psychedelic Research and Dr. Louise Paterson from the Addiction Research Team will head the project, combining their expertise in psychedelics and opioid addiction. The trial will recruit individuals who have recently detoxed from street opioids, such as heroin, or opioid replacements like methadone or buprenorphine. Participants will visit Imperial’s NIHR Clinical Research Facility at Hammersmith Hospital to receive psilocybin therapy.
The study will include brain scans (functional MRI) to examine how psilocybin affects brain function. Additionally, psychological support will be part of the treatment, with participants closely monitored for mental health and tolerability. Follow-up monitoring for up to six months will assess changes in opioid use, cravings, mental health, and overall well-being. This approach has shown promise for treating alcohol and smoking addictions, and now the team hopes it will prove effective for opioid addiction.
Dr. Louise Paterson emphasized the importance of this research, saying, "This trial will examine whether we can improve recovery in a severely underserved group of people—those with opioid dependence during their most vulnerable post-detox phase." Dr. Erritzoe added, “With up to 90% of people relapsing within 12 months after detox, finding new treatments is essential. If successful, this could offer a groundbreaking new treatment option for opioid addiction."
Opioid addiction, including that involving FYL and XYL, remains a significant global health crisis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 600,000 drug-related deaths occurred in 2019, with nearly 80% linked to opioids. In the UK alone, approximately 140,000 people are currently receiving treatment for opioid dependence, yet there are limited options to prevent relapse.
The trial will begin recruitment in Spring 2025 and is supported by an in-kind donation from Filament Health, a Canadian company focused on natural psychedelics drug development, and by Perceptive, a provider of clinical trial imaging services. The project is one of four initiatives funded by the NIHR’s Invention for Innovation (i4i) Addiction: Innovation for Treatment and Recovery Awards, part of the UK Government's Addiction Healthcare Goals. These initiatives aim to reduce harm from illegal drugs and provide new treatment options for those suffering from addiction.
Professor Anne Lingford-Hughes, Chair of the Addiction Healthcare Goals and Professor of Addiction Biology at Imperial, stated, “New approaches to treat drug addiction and reduce drug-related deaths, particularly from overdose, are urgently needed." Naloxone, an overdose-reversal medication, has been vital, but additional solutions like psilocybin therapy may provide long-term recovery support.
Source: Imperial
This groundbreaking trial, the first of its kind in the UK, has secured funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the Government’s Office for Life Sciences. Led by Imperial College London, the study will investigate whether psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, combined with psychological support, can help prevent relapse in individuals who have struggled with opioids, including FYL.
Dr. David Erritzoe from the Centre for Psychedelic Research and Dr. Louise Paterson from the Addiction Research Team will head the project, combining their expertise in psychedelics and opioid addiction. The trial will recruit individuals who have recently detoxed from street opioids, such as heroin, or opioid replacements like methadone or buprenorphine. Participants will visit Imperial’s NIHR Clinical Research Facility at Hammersmith Hospital to receive psilocybin therapy.
The study will include brain scans (functional MRI) to examine how psilocybin affects brain function. Additionally, psychological support will be part of the treatment, with participants closely monitored for mental health and tolerability. Follow-up monitoring for up to six months will assess changes in opioid use, cravings, mental health, and overall well-being. This approach has shown promise for treating alcohol and smoking addictions, and now the team hopes it will prove effective for opioid addiction.
Dr. Louise Paterson emphasized the importance of this research, saying, "This trial will examine whether we can improve recovery in a severely underserved group of people—those with opioid dependence during their most vulnerable post-detox phase." Dr. Erritzoe added, “With up to 90% of people relapsing within 12 months after detox, finding new treatments is essential. If successful, this could offer a groundbreaking new treatment option for opioid addiction."
Opioid addiction, including that involving FYL and XYL, remains a significant global health crisis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 600,000 drug-related deaths occurred in 2019, with nearly 80% linked to opioids. In the UK alone, approximately 140,000 people are currently receiving treatment for opioid dependence, yet there are limited options to prevent relapse.
The trial will begin recruitment in Spring 2025 and is supported by an in-kind donation from Filament Health, a Canadian company focused on natural psychedelics drug development, and by Perceptive, a provider of clinical trial imaging services. The project is one of four initiatives funded by the NIHR’s Invention for Innovation (i4i) Addiction: Innovation for Treatment and Recovery Awards, part of the UK Government's Addiction Healthcare Goals. These initiatives aim to reduce harm from illegal drugs and provide new treatment options for those suffering from addiction.
Professor Anne Lingford-Hughes, Chair of the Addiction Healthcare Goals and Professor of Addiction Biology at Imperial, stated, “New approaches to treat drug addiction and reduce drug-related deaths, particularly from overdose, are urgently needed." Naloxone, an overdose-reversal medication, has been vital, but additional solutions like psilocybin therapy may provide long-term recovery support.
Source: Imperial