Since its foundation in 2005, the Institute for Substance-Assisted Therapy (IST) has been dedicated to the development and research of forms of therapy in which psychoactive substances are used. The aim is to have developed therapy methods by the time all therapeutically usable substances are legalized in such a way that therapists can then start working immediately. Psychoactive substances that are legal are already being used at the Institute in the development and application of forms of therapy. In some cases, therapeutic work is also carried out in countries with substances that are not criminalized there but are still banned in Germany.

This means that the IST focuses on training therapists who ultimately have all the necessary qualifications so that they do not have to start with long training courses. Another focus is the professional exchange between practitioners, for which conferences and further training events are offered.

The IST does not itself work on the political implementation of alternative therapy methods, but does support them. Rather, it aims to create the professional basis for the development of therapy methods and the availability of qualified therapists once political implementation has taken place.