The Allure of Ayahuasca: Is it helpful for those in alcohol or drug recovery?

March 16, 2026

Michael Cline, Author

Tom O'Connor, Publisher

Addiction and the Trauma Beneath

Those who have been in the grips of addiction, at least in my experience with those that I've met in "the rooms" and in other places, all have one thing in common: childhood trauma.

Dr. Gabor Maté, an expert in psychology, addiction treatment, and trauma awareness, claims that "rather than choice, chance or genetic predetermination, it is childhood adversity that creates the susceptibility for addiction."

While I'm sure there are plenty of people who are or have struggled with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, due to it being a hereditary issue or something they grew up around and saw as usual, most that I've met all talked of abusive childhoods or some kind of traumatic event that happened to them before they hit their teenage years.

In my opinion, my years as a person with a heroin addiction and later, my dangerous abuse of alcohol, are directly related to a childhood that I wouldn't call kind. As a child, I was bullied, my mother had a passion for "bad boy boyfriends and husband," and I lost both of my parents before either of them had the chance to blow out thirty birthday candles.

However, during my teenage years, I never saw myself as a prime candidate for turning into an IV drug user in my twenties, and a hardcore yet functioning alcoholic in my late thirties. Unfortunately, that's precisely what happened. I didn't know it, but I was a textbook case for addiction.

Although I learned a lot from 12-step programs and stayed clean and sober for years and years, I failed miserably at addressing the things that made me want to numb myself. Abstinence and recovery are not the same thing. Addiction isn't the problem; it's a symptom of a much deeper issue.

What Is Ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is a traditional psychoactive brew native to the Amazon Basin, used for centuries by Indigenous peoples for healing, spiritual insight, and community rituals. Although typically called Ayahuasca, this liquid is made from boiling cut pieces of the ayahuasca vine along with the leaves from the Chacruna shrub. The Chacruna leaves contain a high amount of DMT (a potent psychedelic), and the Ayahuasca vine contains MAO inhibitors (which allow the body to absorb the DMT quickly).

What Does Ayahuasca Do and Can It Help Addicts?

People who ingest Ayahuasca are known to experience visions similar to those of LSD or Psilocybin mushrooms. They can range from being extremely pleasant to absolutely terrifying. Participants are also likely to feel nauseous, vomit profusely, tremble, sweat, and some may have sudden fits of laughter or crying. Curanderos (natural healers), who administer Ayahuasca, believe that it is a physical and emotional cleansing, and cures a wide range of problems, both physical and emotional.

Ayahuasca Research

A recent qualitative study researched the effects Ayahuasca had on several people with an addiction and suggests that while Ayahuasca didn't directly end addiction, it did provide positive insight into the reasons people with an addiction were using drugs. This is because its effects force participants to face their fears and relive horrific moments from their lives. It's a method for focusing on unpleasant feelings or for dealing with a traumatic event.

That's not to say that attending an Ayahuasca ceremony is the end-all, cure-all of addiction. To make such a bold claim is both ignorant and dangerous. Many participants have reported great insight into why they used drugs and alcohol, and by being forced to face these unpleasant truths, they set their sights on dealing with these issues while integrating the knowledge they gained into their lives.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ayahuasca

Below are some of the most common questions people ask about Ayahuasca

What does Ayahuasca do to the brain?

Ayahuasca contains the powerful psychedelic compound dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain. This interaction can alter perception, emotions, and thought patterns, leading to intense visual or auditory hallucinations, emotional experiences, and changes in awareness. Because DMT affects serotonin pathways, it can also create risks when combined with medications that influence serotonin levels.

How long does an Ayahuasca experience last?

The effects of Ayahuasca typically begin within 30 to 60 minutes after drinking the brew. The most intense effects usually last four to six hours, though some emotional or psychological effects may linger longer. The exact duration depends on factors such as dosage, the specific plant mixture used, and the individual’s physical and mental health.

Can Ayahuasca be addictive?

Ayahuasca is not generally considered physically addictive, but it still carries psychological and safety risks. The more significant concerns are its intense psychological effects, potential interactions with medications, and the risk of dangerous behavior while under the influence.

Why do people vomit during an Ayahuasca ceremony?

Nausea and vomiting are extremely common during Ayahuasca ceremonies and are often referred to as “purging.” In traditional ceremonial contexts, this is sometimes viewed as part of the spiritual cleansing process. From a medical standpoint, however, vomiting is a physiological reaction to the powerful compounds in the brew and the body’s response to them.

Can Ayahuasca help treat depression, substance use disorders, or trauma?

Researchers are currently studying whether psychedelic substances like Ayahuasca may have therapeutic potential for conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders. Early research shows promise, but Ayahuasca itself is not currently an approved medical treatment in most countries, and experts emphasize the importance of controlled clinical settings and professional supervision.

Personal Experience

I had done some research about alternative addiction treatment a year or so before I finally broke free from the chains of heroin addiction, so I did have surface knowledge of what it is and its possible benefits for people with an addiction. However, from my discovery of this strange Amazonian brew to my first ceremony, twenty years had gone by. And even when I doubted its magic and saw it more as a drug and less as a medicine, I would come to have a complete change of heart.

Ayahuasca is not for everyone, and I cannot wholeheartedly say that it's the answer to those struggling with addiction. However, it was a miracle cure for me, and opened the door for not only helping to heal my trauma, but also awakened a desire for spiritual knowledge. If I hadn't traveled to Peru in January 2020, I believe that I wouldn't be alive today.

If you enjoyed this, you should check the books I've written. My Adventures in Tuva covers a lifelong love of a place no one's ever heard of, and New York City Junky Days chronicles my life in Manhattan's East Village in the eighties and nineties. Newly released, New York Recovery Days dives into battles with addiction, depression, and the never-ending issues of mental health. It points in a positive direction that recovery and happiness are possible.

Michael Cline can be reached at michaelcline2323@gmail.com

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