Pubdate: Thu, 15 Mar 2012
Source: Chico News & Review, The (CA)
Copyright: 2012 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.newsreview.com/chico/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/559

THE HEALING POWER OF LSD

Hallucinogen May Help Alcoholics Give Up the Drink

New research analyzing data from studies conducted between 1966 and 
1970 suggests LSD may help alcoholics quit and remain sober.

In a study that appeared in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, 
researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology 
took a fresh look at data from six different studies conducted in the 
United States and Canada, according to Health.com. The researchers 
concluded a single dose of the hallucinogen helped heavy alcoholics 
quit and reduced their risk of relapse. In addition, 59 percent of 
patients showed a clear improvement after receiving a full dose of 
LSD, compared to 38 percent of patients who did not take the drug. 
Study authors Teri Krebs and Pal-Orjan Johansen speculated the 
results were linked to LSD's effect on serotonin receptors in the brain.

"LSD may stimulate the formation of new connections and patterns, and 
generally seems to open an individual to an awareness of new 
perspectives and opportunities for action," wrote Krebs and Johansen.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom