Clinical Research Studies

The purpose of this research is to compare the effectiveness of psilocybin to Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Psilocybin is the active ingredient in many types of hallucinogenic mushrooms. A hallucinogen is a type of drug that can make you see, hear, feel, taste, and/or smell something that is not real. Psilocybin has not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a safe or effective treatment for any health condition. Therefore, the use of psilocybin to treat any disorder is considered experimental. Pilot studies have investigated its effects in alcohol dependence and smoking cessation (quitting smoking). There have not been any published controlled studies of the use of psilocybin in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine (anti-allergy medication), which is used to treat allergic reactions, insomnia (trouble sleeping), motion sickness, and Parkinsonism (a condition of the brain that affects movement). We are comparing the effectiveness of diphenhydramine to psilocybin in the treatment of alcohol dependence because it can have physical and psychological effects similar to psilocybin at the doses used in this study.