Mixed Messages: What Reddit Reveals About Psychedelics for Opioid Addiction

The opioid crisis continues to devastate communities across North America. Despite numerous interventions and treatments, many people still struggle to break free from opioid dependence. In this challenging landscape, some have turned to an unconventional approach: psychedelic substances. But do psychedelics actually help with opioid addiction? A fascinating new study published in the journal Addiction has examined this question by analyzing discussions on Reddit, revealing complex and sometimes contradictory perspectives from people with firsthand experience.

The Reddit Research Approach

Researchers from several institutions conducted a qualitative study using the Reddit online community platform, focusing on two subreddits dedicated to discussions of opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment: r/OpiatesRecovery and r/Methadone. They examined posts from 2018 to 2021 that contained key psychedelic terms, analyzing content from 151 relevant posts and their respective comments. Why Reddit? Because it offers something traditional clinical studies often miss – raw, unfiltered accounts from people actually using psychedelics to manage their opioid use, outside the constraints of formal medical settings. "This approach gives us insights we wouldn't normally capture in controlled studies," explains one addiction researcher not involved in the study. "We're hearing directly from people in their own words about what worked, what didn't, and why."

Two Competing Narratives Emerge

The study revealed two prominent and somewhat conflicting perspectives on using psychedelics to treat opioid addiction.

The Hopeful View: "Psychedelics Saved Me"

Many Reddit users reported powerful positive experiences with psychedelics for addressing their opioid use. According to these accounts, psychedelics helped in several key ways:

1. Physical Relief: Some users described how psychedelics helped alleviate the brutal physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal – the muscle aches, nausea, restlessness, and other symptoms that make quitting so difficult.
2. Motivation Shift: Others reported that psychedelic experiences fundamentally changed their desire to use opioids. As one Reddit user put it (paraphrased): "After my experience with psilocybin, I just didn't want to use anymore. It wasn't about willpower – the craving itself was different."
3. Addressing Root Causes: Perhaps most profoundly, many users described how psychedelics helped them confront and process underlying trauma, depression, or emotional pain that had fueled their opioid use in the first place.

One Reddit user described their experience this way: "I'd tried quitting six times before, but always went back. After the psychedelic session, I could finally see how I'd been using opioids to numb myself from childhood trauma. Once I faced that, the need to use just wasn't the same."

The Skeptical View: "It's Not That Simple"

However, not everyone shared these positive experiences. The study also found a significant number of skeptical voices who cautioned against seeing psychedelics as a miracle cure:

1. Temporary Effects: Some users reported that while psychedelics provided temporary relief or insights, many people eventually returned to opioid use.
2. Safety Concerns: Others expressed worries about potential risks, especially for people with certain mental health conditions or those taking other medications.
3. False Hope: Some worried that the growing excitement around psychedelics might create unrealistic expectations, leading to disappointment and potentially dangerous situations.

As one skeptical Reddit user commented (paraphrased): "I've seen too many people have a profound trip, think they're cured, then relapse a month later. These substances can show you the door, but you still have to walk through it and keep walking."

The Complexity of Healing

What makes this research particularly valuable is how it highlights the nuanced reality of addiction recovery. Unlike some media portrayals that suggest psychedelics offer a "one-and-done" cure for addiction, the Reddit discussions reveal a more complex picture. Many users who reported success with psychedelics emphasized that these substances were just one part of a broader recovery approach that included:

• Therapy and counseling
• Community support
• Lifestyle changes
• Ongoing personal work

"The psychedelic experience opened the door, but I still had to do the work," wrote one Reddit user. "It gave me a perspective I couldn't have reached otherwise, but then I had to build on that with therapy, meditation, and completely changing my social circle."

Different Psychedelics, Different Effects

The study also revealed interesting patterns regarding which psychedelics were discussed for opioid use disorder. Two substances appeared most frequently in the discussions:

Ibogaine

Derived from the root bark of the African iboga plant, ibogaine has gained attention specifically for addiction treatment. Some users described profound experiences with ibogaine that seemed to reset their relationship with opioids. However, ibogaine also carries significant risks, including potential cardiac complications, and is illegal in the United States.

Psilocybin

The active compound in "magic mushrooms," psilocybin was frequently mentioned for its ability to provide psychological insights and emotional breakthroughs. Users often described psilocybin experiences as helping them understand the emotional roots of their addiction in ways that conventional therapy hadn't achieved.

The Need for More Research

The researchers behind the Reddit study emphasize that their findings highlight an urgent need for controlled clinical studies to better understand how different psychedelics affect opioid use. Key questions that need answering include:

• Which psychedelics work best for which types of opioid use disorders?
• How do psychedelics interact with existing treatments like methadone or buprenorphine?
• What safety protocols are needed to minimize risks?
• How can psychedelic experiences be integrated into comprehensive treatment plans?

"There appear to be diverse perspectives on the effects of using psychedelics to treat opioid use disorder," the researchers concluded, "and an urgent need for controlled studies to better understand the impact of different psychedelics on opioid use, how they may be used in the context of existing treatments, and what strategies they must be combined with to ensure safety and effectiveness."

The Human Element

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of this research is how it centers the experiences of people who actually use drugs. In a field often dominated by clinical perspectives, hearing directly from individuals navigating their own recovery journeys provides invaluable insights. As the researchers note, "Integrating the experiences of people who use drugs will help guide psychedelics research toward effective person-centered interventions to enhance health and wellness. "For those considering psychedelics for opioid use disorder, the Reddit discussions offer neither blanket endorsement nor rejection, but rather a nuanced picture that acknowledges both potential benefits and limitations. They suggest that psychedelics might offer valuable tools for some people's recovery journeys, while emphasizing that context, integration, and ongoing support remain crucial elements of lasting change. As research in this area continues to evolve, listening to these diverse voices and experiences will be essential in developing approaches that truly meet the complex needs of those struggling with opioid addiction.*This article is based on research published in the journal Addiction examining Reddit discussions about psychedelics for opioid use disorder. 

Source: PubMed