Research suggests MDMA could be used to treat alcoholism

News 21/08/2019

New research suggests MDMA could be used to successfully treat alcohol addiction.

Early findings of the study - the first of its kind - indicate that using MDMA could actually produce better results than standard treatment that is currently in use.

Psychiatrists are trialling the use of small doses of the drug alongside psychotherapy and found that after nine months half of those who took part in the study remained completely sober. Staggeringly, just one patient relapsed.

With standard treatment, statistics say that eight out of ten people treated for an alcohol addiction go back to drinking within three years.

Doctors from Imperial College London performed the study, with leader Dr Ben Sessa telling The Guardian "with the very best that medical science can work with, 80 percent of people are drinking within three years post alcohol detox."

"We've got one person who has completely relapsed, back to previous drinking levels, we have five people who are completely dry and we have four or five who have had one or two drinks but wouldn't reach the diagnosis of alcohol use disorder."

Eleven people are currently taking part in the trial, with the first stage being used to determine the safety of the treatment.

As for withdrawls, Sessa said "there is no black Monday, blue Tuesday, or whatever ravers call it. In my opinion, that is an artefact of raving. It's not about MDMA."