Download 1 RUNNING HEAD: AYAHUASCA AND TREATING ADDICTION

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RUNNING HEAD: AYAHUASCA AND TREATING ADDICTION
Mechanisms of DMT in Ayahuasca and its Relationship to the Treatment of Drug Addiction
Nick Kulla
St. Olaf College
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RUNNING HEAD: AYAHUASCA AND TREATING ADDICTION
Background
There are many theories behind what contributes to a drug addiction because of its
complexity. Most theories include the “reward pathway” or the mesolimbic pathway, in which
dopamine is the primary neurotransmitter (Stahl 2008: 272). This pathway consists of three
interconnected areas, which include: the ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens, and
the prefrontal cortex. The VTA releases dopamine, while the nucleus accumbens receives
dopamine from VTA and communicates with the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex
(personality, social functioning, and motivation), communicates with the VTA through the
amygdala, thus completing the cycle (Stahl 2008: 945-954). The release of dopamine in the VTA
has been hypothesized to alter the connections between neurons (synaptic plasticity), which
according to modern day theories occurs in the amygdala. Repeated drug abuse, or increased
levels of dopamine, result in neural changes associated with conditioning and learning (Liester &
Prickett 2012: 205). This would implicate that learning is associated with reward and addictive
behaviors. An increase in dopamine causes an intense pleasurable feeling associated with reward,
which is difficult to treat because of its association with learning and conditioning. However,
there are new advances in research suggesting that psychoactive drugs can and should be a
possible solution towards treating addiction.
Ayahuasca is a boiled mixture of plants that has been utilized by the indigenous people of
South Africa for thousands of years for healing and spiritual purposes. Monamine oxidase
inhibitor (MAOI), a key ingredient in ayahuasca, have been found to increase monamine levels
in dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine by preventing enzymes to properly break down the
amines (Leister & Prickett 2012: 201-202). Monamines include catecholamines (dopamine,
norepinephrine, and epinephrine), tryptamines (serotonin, melatonin, and N-
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dimenthyltryptamine, or DMT), and trace amines (tyramine, histamine, and thyronamines).
DMT, the most psychoactive component of ayahuasca, binds to most postsynaptic serotonin
receptors such as the 5HT2A receptors, causing a reaction much like the hallucinogenic effects
of LSD (Liester & Prickett 2012: 201). This stimulation, or agonism, of 5HT2A receptors
reduces dopamine release in the mesolimbic pathway because of a direct connection between
serotonin and dopamine neurons. Also, agonism of 5HT2A excites the GABA interneurons,
which result in the inhibition of dopamine release. This has been supported through positron
emission tomography (PET) scans (Liester & Prickett 2012: 203-204).
The experience of ayahuasca alters a person’s perceptions, emotions, and thinking. It
involves vivid imagery, primarily motion, lights, geometric shapes, nature, etc. Feelings of
transcendence or a greater understanding of the supernatural world through out-of-body
experiences is also a common experience. When the visions fade, there is a sense of one’s own
physical presence (Beyer 2009: 229-230). Along with nausea and vomiting, ayahuasca can also
cause tremors, diarrhea and an increase in heart rate (Schultes, Hofmann & Ratsch 1998: 129).
However, a state of well-being lingers on long after the effects subside (Riba et al. 2001: 89-90).
Many people who have used this drug find it difficult to describe the effects of ayahuasca who
haven’t experienced it because their visions and memories of experiences are usually out of our
normal perceptual framework (Grob 2002).
Hypothesis
In this experiment, I plan to test the addictive behavior (dependent variable) of subjects
dealing with addiction. To do this, I plan to administer ayahuasca (independent variable) to half
of the chosen participants and a placebo drug (control variable). For this experiment, I
hypothesize that the physical addictive behavior will diminish the most effectively in the
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participants that receive the ayahuasca. Additionally, I hypothesize that psychological well-being
will improve for subjects of the experimental group, which will be assessed through
questionnaires and interviews after the conclusion of the study.
Method
• To attain the proper participants, researchers will first need to advertise my study to college
students that suffer from any sort of drug addiction. Researchers will use approximately 30
participants for this study, ideally 15 males and 15 females. This may be difficult because
males statistically suffer from drug addiction more so than females.
• A background check on all of the participants will take place, in which participants will
provide information on previous and current family health disorders or concerns. All
information will be kept classified.
• Researchers will create a questionnaire asking the participants various questions before the
experiment begins. This questionnaire will include 1). Demographic information, such as their
age, gender, religious affiliation, education, etc. 2). History of other drug use in the last 12
months, 6 months, and 30 days prior to the experiment. 3) History of current addiction
including the age of initiation, number of occasions used routes of administration, and location
of use. The participant will also be asked to rate their level of addiction on a scale of 1-7, 1
being nearly nonexistent and 7 being extremely dangerous. 4) Rate the physical and
psychological sense of well-being on a scale of 1-7, 1 being the lowest and 7 being the highest.
• Participants are then given either the ayahuasca mixture or a placebo drug in the laboratory and
under the supervision of the researcher. The average dose of ayahuasca was chosen to be given
to the experiments over the crystallized form because it is much safer.
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• Once the side effects subside, the researcher will give each participant a small journal, in which
they are asked to write down any instances of cravings for the addictive substance.
• The participants are then asked to return to the laboratory a week, month, and three months
after the experiment concludes. During each visit, the participants will be given a questionnaire
regarding their physical and psychological well-being after their experience in the lab. The
questions will be asked on a scale of 1-7 and the participants will be asked to elaborate on any
feelings or emotions they might have experienced after the experiment. Also, they will be
asked to once again rate their level of addiction on a scale of 1-7, giving any instances where
they may have relapsed.
Discussion
This experiment is important because drug addiction is an ongoing problem, especially in
our society. Severe drug addiction is often described as a never ending cycle, which more than
often leads to poverty and influences our people and economy. Most people living in these
conditions often feel trapped in this cycle and find it hard to break from it. This study could
potentially lead to a more effective solution to solving drug addiction through the use of
psychoactive drugs. This is due to the hypothesis that ayahuasca reduces brain dopamine levels
in the mesolimbic pathway, which is the area of the brain associated with reward. This reduction
in dopamine levels is due to the agonism of 5HT2A receptors, which is stimulated by DMT.
Also, ayahuasca may have the ability to interfere with the synaptic plasticity occurring in the
amygdala, which is the area in the brain associated with development and maintenance of
addictions. Also, a greater awareness of the self and the improved feelings of well-being are side
effects from DMT. This can potentially alter someone’s motives behind their addiction, causing
them to make better decisions. All of these factors could help treat the physical addictive
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behavior of addicts while increasing the psychological sense of well-being. Even with these
hypotheses, there are societal risks involved when using drugs to break the addiction from other
drugs.
People may be skeptical about using DMT or ayahuasca as medicine because of the
potential risk. The lethality of the drug has been tested in one study in particular, in which
researchers found that the median total dose that could be considered lethal in humans is 560mg
for a 70kg individual. This number seems exceptionally large when compared to the average
dose taken; 27mg (Gable 2006: 27).
Another possible skepticism towards using DMT could be its rate of addiction. However,
little or no tolerance to emotional effects were reported in one study where humans were given
DMT four times at 30 minute intervals, and another study where DMT was given twice daily for
5 days (Gable 2006: 31). It is presumed that there are very few addictive characteristics with
DMT, but there simply has not been enough research done to provide such theory.
Another potential limitation, along with the lack of social acceptance, could be the
validity of the subjects’ responses to the questionnaires. It is very possible that the participants
could lie about their psychological and physical well-being because of fear or embarrassment.
This would have an effect on the validity of the results.
If this experiment were to be conducted and considered successful, there would be a
breakthrough in drug addiction treatment. It could potentially be one of the safest options in
treatment because it utilizes the effects of DMT, which is naturally found in every living
organism, to inhibit the release of dopamine that reinforces addictive behavior. It also has the
capability to improve one’s psychological state, providing people with a positive self-image
while they get over their addiction. Further research could include finding an easier way to
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produce ayahuasca, being that the plants are only found near the Amazon River. This would
provide an even safer way for people to become treated for addiction without having the intense
effects of smoking DMT and make ayahuasca more available everywhere throughout the world.
.
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References
Beyer, S.V. 2009. Singing to the Plants: A Guide to Mestizo Shamanism in the Upper Amazon.
Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.
Gable, R. S. (2007). Risk assessment of ritual use of oral dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and
harmala alkaloids. Addiction, 102(1), 24-34. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.13600443.2006.01652.x
Grob, C.S. (Ed.) 2002. Hallucinogens: A Reader. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam.
Liester, M. B., & Prickett, J. I. (2012). Hypotheses regarding the mechanisms of ayahuasca in the
treatment of addictions. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 44(3), 200-208.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2012.704590
Riba, J.; Rodriguez-Fornells, A.; Urbano, G.; Morte, A.; Antonijoan, R.; Montero, M.; Callaway,
J.C. & Barbanoj, J.J. 2001. Subjective effects and tolerability of the South American
psychoactive beverage ayahuasca in healthy volunteers. Psychopharmacology 154: 85-95.
Schultes, R.E.; Hofmann, A. & Ratsch, C. 1998. Plants of the Gods: Their Sacred, Healing and
Hallucinogenic Powers. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
Stahl, S.M. 2008. Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific Basis and Practical
Applications. Cambridge, NY: Cambridge University Press.