Treatment of Alcoholism With LSD?

LSD cannot be prescribed. It is not an approved drug. Its therapeutic application is regarded as experimental. In the 1960s LSD was proposed for use in the treatment of neuroses, especially for patients who were recalcitrant to more conventional psychotherapeutic procedures. LSD was tried as a treatment for alcoholism and to reduce suffering of terminally ill cancer patients. It was studied as an adjunct in the treatment of narcotic addiction, of children with autism, and of the so-call psychopathic personality. None of these uses were successful by the early 1990s, and most researchers concluded that there was no clinical value in the use of LSD.

Researches have worked relentlessly, detectives on a tough case, to discover exactly what goes wrong; their accumulated evidence shows that no one mysterious X factor causes alcoholism; and no silver bullet exists which can be carefully extracted to make the alcoholic well again. Instead, their studies have uncovered a number of physiological differences between alcoholics and non-alcoholics. When taken together, these factors explain the alcoholic’s vulnerability to alcohol and the onset of alcoholism. These factors include genes, enzymes, hormones, brain and other body chemistry. In this respect, alcohol works together to create their abnormal and unfortunate reaction. I might add that not every drinker is abnormally affected.

My published research discovered that once the physiological factor is understood and acted upon, the affected person must drink again if they are to be adversely affected. Psychological, cultural, and social factors definitely influence the alcoholic’s drinking patterns and behavior. The alcoholic’s challenge is not to drink again. If they stop drinking for any reason ---religious, cultural, social, or psychological---the disease is arrested not cured. Alcoholism is a chronic disease.

References:

LSD. (2012. In Encyclopaedia Britannica. Web. Retrieved 10 March, 2012 from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/350174/LSD

Strawbridge, James M., PhD (February, 2007). The Experience Of Long-Term Sobriety For Men Ages 55 Through 65 Who Are Members Of Alcoholic Anonymous. UMI Dissertation Services, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106-1346 USA: 1-800.521.0600, 734.761.4700. Web www.il.proquest.com.