Non-Invasive Ultrasound Shows Promise for Addiction Treatment
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Non-Invasive Ultrasound Shows Promise for Addiction Treatment
- A new clinical trial launched in Seoul, Korea, in May 2025, is investigating focused ultrasound neuromodulation to treat patients with psychostimulant use disorder, specifically targeting methamphetamine addiction.
- Researchers at West Virginia University's Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, led by Dr. Ali Rezai, have completed initial safety and feasibility studies using low-intensity focused ultrasound on 15 patients with various substance use disorders.
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Non-invasive focused ultrasound is emerging as a promising therapeutic approach for substance use disorders, with ongoing research exploring its ability to reduce cravings and alter brain activity associated with addiction. This innovative technology directs beams of ultrasound energy to specific, deep brain regions, such as the nucleus accumbens, which plays a central role in craving and reward processing. The goal is to modulate the neural activity in these areas, potentially minimizing or eliminating cravings.
Traditional addiction treatments often involve long-term psychological and medicinal interventions, but new neurological approaches like focused ultrasound offer a non-pharmacologic and non-invasive alternative. Unlike more invasive procedures such as deep brain stimulation, focused ultrasound does not require surgery or incisions. The procedure can be delivered in a relatively short period, and in some cases, patients may go home the same day.
In May 2025, a clinical trial began in Seoul, Korea, to evaluate focused ultrasound neuromodulation for treating methamphetamine addiction. This study, funded by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, is a randomized, open-label feasibility study aiming to enroll up to 30 patients. Researchers are targeting the nucleus accumbens and measuring outcomes through urine drug screenings, self-reported craving severity, and neurocognitive assessments over a six-month follow-up period.
In the United States, researchers at West Virginia University’s Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute have been conducting safety and feasibility studies since at least January 2024, using low-intensity focused ultrasound on patients with opioid, alcohol, and methamphetamine use disorders. Their initial findings, published in September 2023, indicated that the procedure was safe, significantly reduced substance cravings for several months, and led to complete abstinence or dramatic reductions in illicit drug use for all participants. Further research is needed to optimize this technology and secure FDA approval for widespread treatment.