Heffter Research Institute

Psychedelic Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder

Model and Strategy

The Heffter Research Institute’s mission is to promote research of the highest scientific quality with the classic hallucinogens and related compounds (sometimes called psychedelics) in order to contribute to a greater understanding of the mind leading to the improvement of the human condition, and to alleviate suffering. For the 26 years since our founding, we have granted over $10 million to leading research institutions, including Johns Hopkins, NYU, Yale, Harvard, UCLA and the University of Zürich.118 scientific publications have been published with Heffter support.These include basic science projects to understand the relationship of consciousness to brain function as revealed by psychedelics.Other studies have demonstrated the therapeutic benefit of psychedelic-assisted treatment for multiple addictions, anxiety, mood disorders, headaches and inflammation.Recently, Johns Hopkins was awarded $17 million in pledges for psychedelic research based largely on their research that Heffter scientifically reviewed and funded. This project examines study outcomes of psychedelic-assisted treatment of opioid addiction.

Impact

The success of LSD addiction treatment and the small psilocybin studies on tobacco and alcohol addictions mean psychedelic opioid addiction treatment will likely succeed, too.Even modest improvements in the high relapse rates in opioid addiction could help millions of people and prevent thousands of overdose deaths. Success in scientific journals leads to more research in the field. When media reports results to the public, momentum grows for public agencies to support further research. Opioid addiction affects people and their families in all demographics. Rural areas are often the hardest hit. Research has found that psychedelic experience enhances meaningfulness, spiritual significance and personality openness, all of which improve both personal well-being and increased social connectedness, helping people to remain in recovery. For minority impact, all sites continue to aim to hire women and minorities for their research staff. The BCCSU research staff is guided by a diverse community advisory board and trained on diversity and inclusion. Staff will link with medical sites and programs that serve diverse groups, advertise in media with diverse audiences, and attempt to build relationships in communities to share information on psychedelic therapy and implement strategies to overcome barriers to study inclusion. The U. Wisconsin site works with a number of organizations that specifically serve minority and other underrepresented populations, such as Latino, African American and gender non-conforming individuals. Participants for this study will be recruited from these groups. Johns Hopkins is in Baltimore, where 63% of the population is African-American. Other racial/ethnic minority groups and women will be recruited at as high of a rate as possible.
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Leadership

  • George

    George Greer, MD

    Executive Director

  • Nitasha

    Nitasha Puri, MD

    Principal Investigator, British Columbia Centre on Substance Use

  • Matthew

    Matthew Johnson, PhD

    Principal Investigator, Johns Hopkins University

  • Randall

    Randall Brown, MD, PhD

    Principal Investigator, University of Wisconsin, Madison

  • T. Cody

    T. Cody Swift

    Board of Directors