The flaw in the recent psilocybin for alcohol use disorder study

True research studies aim to “falsify.” This didn’t.

Disclaimer: I am an avid supporter of psychedelics. I started a nonprofit for iboga years ago with a friend/cofounder to raise awareness of its use to eliminate opiate withdrawal. I support a lot of people who are seeking information regarding microdosing, whether it is psilocybin, LSD, and even ibogaine. I consult in the psychedelic space, and own a mushroom company. I am in no way against psychedelics and their trials.

But what I see consistently in this space is blind and overzealous sensationalism (that goes right along with the huge investment bubble we’re seeing).

In our excitement to prove efficacy (which we know, anecdotally, and usually personally, DOES exist), are we failing to practice the “good science” of falsification, whereby we sincerely attempt to prove our ideas WRONG in an effort to show that they are right bar none?

On August 24, JAMA Psychiatry published this clinical trial’s results studying the effects of psilocybin on alcohol addiction.

The study’s design: 95 participants, all of whom received 12 psychotherapy sessions, and 2 “dose” sessions…