Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for AUD: Emerging Evidence, Clinical and Cost Implications, and Treatment Gaps

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) imposes a significant mortality and health care cost burden in the United States, resulting in an estimated 178,307 deaths annually during 2020-2021, representing an approximate 29.3% increase from 2016-2017.¹ AUD is also associated with substantial health care expenditures and productivity losses nationwide, with alcohol-associated liver disease alone representing approximately $31 billion in US health care costs in 2022.² Existing pharmacotherapies, including naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram, and gabapentinoids, have reduced alcohol consumption for some patients but have not consistently achieved sustained abstinence across more extensive populations.^3,4 This persistent treatment gap has prompted renewed investigation into psilocybin-assisted therapy, particularly for those who have not responded to standard pharmacologic and psychosocial interventions.