Breaking the Cycle of Addiction: Psychedelics and the Future of Addiction Treatment

Exploring the science, therapeutic potential, and challenges of psychedelic-assisted approaches to addiction

EVENT RESCHEDULED to 10th November 2026.

About

For millions of people, behavioural or substance addictions are not a choice or a failure of willpower, they are vicious cycles that existing treatments too often fail to break.

In recent years, psychedelic-assisted therapies have gained attention as a potential new approach, offering the possibility of addressing not just symptoms, but the underlying psychological and emotional drivers of addiction.

This event will explore the emerging science behind psychedelics and addiction. We'll examine how these compounds may support recovery, where the clinical evidence currently stands, and what challenges remain in bringing these approaches into real-world care.

What to Expect

• An overview of addiction: mechanisms, patterns, and treatment challenges
• The current treatment landscape and its limitations
• Introduction to psychedelic-assisted therapy (e.g. psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine)
• How psychedelics may influence craving, behaviour, and psychological patterns
• Key mechanisms: neuroplasticity, emotional processing, and meaning-making
• Review of current clinical research and trial outcomes
• Risks, safety considerations, and ethical challenges
• The role of set, setting, and integration in addiction treatment
• What the future of psychedelic therapies in addiction could look like

⚠️ Please note: This is an educational event. No medical or clinical advice can be given during this session.

Can’t attend the live event? No problem -  all ticket holders will get access to the recording.

Your Speaker

Dr. Rayyan Zafar has previously completed undergraduate studies in BSc Biomedical Sciences at Newcastle University (1st Class Hons), an MSc in Clinical Neuropsychiatry from Kings College London, IOPPN (Distinction) and a Ph.D. in Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College after being awarded the Medical Research Council Doctoral Training 4 year fellowship (MRC DTP) from 2019-2023 supervised by Prof David Nutt, Dr David Erritzoe and Dr Matt Wall. As a member of the Centre for Psychedelic Research and Neuropsychopharmacology group, his work focuses on multimodal neuroimaging investigations to investigate reward system dysfunction and develop novel therapeutics in substance use and behavioral addictions.

Rayyan is currently a Wellcome Postdoctoral research fellow at Imperial College in the Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology and is leading the PsiloGambling study and psychedelic therapy for addiction clinical research after being awarded a UKRI IAA grant. This grant will be used to investigate the first clinical and neuroimaging study of psilocybin therapy in gambling disorder along with members of the Imperial team and the study will form part of an Imperial enterprise biotechnology start-up initiative. He is also a senior scientific officer at Drug Science (formally the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs) where he publishes scientific and policy reports as a member of the Medical Cannabis Working Group and the Medical Psychedelic Working Group.

Your Organiser

Ryan Khan is the Online Events Coordinator for The Psychedelic Society and a life-long psychedelic enthusiast. He is completing his MSc in Psychedelics: Mind, Medicine & Culture at The University of Exeter where he specialised in the extra-pharmacological factors affecting psychedelic assisted therapy. Ryan also sits at the intersection of psychedelic research, education and therapy. He works as a Research Associate at Pneuma Science, Consultant at Psilonautica and Communications & Partnerships Associate at Beautiful Space. 

Follow Ryan on LinkedIn.

REFUNDS POLICY: Please note, we do not arrange refunds or exchanges. When possible we encourage reselling on Ticketswap.

ACCESS:  We do our best to include everyone in our events, regardless of health circumstances. If you have access requirements please email the event organiser directly to discuss. Many facilitators are able to offer reduced ticket prices for those truly unable to afford the ticket price. If this applies to you, do please get in touch with the event organiser.

For PSYCHEDELIC KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES please check out the Psychedelic Society website. 

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