Research into Psychedelic Compounds for Substance Use Disorders

Over the last 2 decades, there has been burgeoning interest in the potential therapeutic applications of psychedelic compounds, such as psilocybin, MDMA, and 5MeO-DMT. Promising results have been attained for mental health (e.g. anxiety, depression, PTSD) and some early work also demonstrates potential benefits in the setting of a number of use disorders. This presentation discusses study design for and the results of clinical trials of psychedelics in the setting of several use disorders and present some early research at the University of Wisconsin in this space.

Randall Brown, MD, PhD, DFASAM (he/him/his) is a professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and Director of the Department’s Program for Research, Outreach, Therapeutics, and Education in the Addictions. He has focused his clinical work, teaching, and research upon enhancing prevention and treatment services for people who use drugs and who use alcohol in unhealthy ways. He has been involved in addiction health services research for 22 years and psychedelic clinical trials for 12 years. He also founded the University of Wisconsin’s Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program and a number of innovative multi-disciplinary clinical services in this space.