METH ADDICTION

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Psychedelic therapy for meth addiction​

by Siddhant Varshney - Apr 19, 2023

Methamphetamine (meth) addiction is a serious and persistent problem in many parts of the world. The standard treatment methods have not been very successful in addressing this problem. However, recent research has shown that psychedelics could be a promising alternative for treating meth addiction. This paper aims to review the current research on the use of psychedelics for treating meth addiction, including their effectiveness, safety, and potential mechanisms of action.

Psychedelics and their mechanisms of action

Psychedelics are a class of drugs that alter perception, mood, and thought processes. They include substances such as psilocybin (found in certain mushrooms), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and ayahuasca (a brew made from plants found in the Amazon). Psychedelics work by affecting serotonin receptors in the brain, leading to changes in mood, perception, and consciousness.

Research on the use of psychedelics for addiction treatment has shown that they may work by disrupting maladaptive patterns of thought and behavior, leading to increased openness, empathy, and self-awareness. This can help individuals with addiction develop new coping mechanisms and improve their overall mental health.

Psychedelics and meth addiction

Meth addiction is a chronic and relapsing disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Meth use can cause a range of physical and mental health problems, including psychosis, depression, and anxiety. Traditional treatment methods, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication-assisted treatment, have had limited success in treating meth addiction.

Recent studies have shown that psychedelics may be effective in treating meth addiction. A study conducted by Johnson et al. (2017) found that a single dose of psilocybin, combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy, resulted in significant improvements in abstinence rates and reduced cravings for methamphetamine in a group of individuals with meth addiction. Similarly, a study by Thomas et al. (2020) found that ayahuasca-assisted therapy was associated with significant reductions in meth use and improved mental health outcomes in a group of individuals with meth addiction.

The mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of psychedelics for treating meth addiction are not yet fully understood. However, it is believed that psychedelics may work by disrupting maladaptive thought patterns and increasing emotional openness and self-awareness, leading to improved coping mechanisms and decreased drug use.

Safety and side effects

Although the use of psychedelics for addiction treatment shows promise, safety is a major concern. Psychedelics can cause a range of psychological and physical side effects, including anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations. Additionally, individuals with certain medical conditions, such as heart disease or schizophrenia, may be at higher risk for adverse effects from psychedelics.

However, recent studies have shown that psychedelics can be administered safely in a clinical setting with proper screening, preparation, and monitoring. A study by Johnson et al. (2018) found that psilocybin-assisted therapy was well-tolerated and had no serious adverse events in a group of individuals with opioid addiction. Similarly, a study by Loizaga-Velder et al. (2016) found that ayahuasca-assisted therapy was safe and well-tolerated in a group of individuals with substance use disorders.

Conclusion

Meth addiction is a serious problem that has proven difficult to treat using traditional methods. However, recent research has shown that psychedelics, such as psilocybin and ayahuasca, may be promising alternatives for treating meth addiction. These substances work by disrupting maladaptive patterns of thought and behavior, leading to increased openness, empathy, and self-awareness.

Despite the limitations of existing studies, the available evidence suggests that psychedelics such as psilocybin and ayahuasca may have therapeutic benefits in reducing meth use and promoting abstinence.

Psychedelics against meth de-addiction

Mini review (latest) on use of psychedelics against meth addiction Author - Siddhant Varshney (Chemical engineer, BTech 2015, MTech 2018) Introduction Methamphetamine (meth) addiction is a serious and persistent problem in many parts of the world. The standard treatment methods have not been very su

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MINDSCAPE RETREAT - Ibogaine Treatment for Methamphetamine Addiction​

Methamphetamine destroys dopamine circuitry. Conventional rehab cannot rebuild it. Ibogaine upregulates GDNF, the neurotrophic factor that initiates structural repair of the reward system meth has dismantled. One medically supervised session addresses the neurological root of stimulant addiction.​

Methamphetamine Use Disorder​

A chronic relapsing condition driven by structural damage to the brain's dopaminergic reward system. Methamphetamine floods synapses with 10-12x normal dopamine levels, causing receptor downregulation that persists for months to years after cessation.​

• No FDA-approved medication exists for methamphetamine addiction​
• Conventional treatment addresses behavior but cannot repair the neurochemical damage​
• Relapse rates exceed 60% within the first year of behavioral treatment alone​
• Ibogaine's GDNF and BDNF upregulation initiates the neural repair that behavioral interventions cannot achieve​

Why Methamphetamine Addiction Is So Difficult to Treat​

Methamphetamine is uniquely destructive to the brain's reward architecture. Where opioids hijack existing receptor pathways, methamphetamine physically damages the dopaminergic neurons responsible for motivation, pleasure, and executive function. Chronic meth use triggers massive dopamine release (up to 1,250 nanomoles compared to cocaine's 350), and the brain responds by stripping dopamine receptors from the synaptic surface. The result is a patient who has structurally lost the capacity to experience normal levels of pleasure, motivation, and reward. This is not a willpower problem. It is a hardware problem.

This damage explains the phenomenon of anhedonia (the profound inability to feel pleasure) that defines early meth recovery and makes relapse almost inevitable through behavioral treatment alone. When a person cannot experience satisfaction from food, relationships, work, exercise, or any natural reward, the gravitational pull back to the one substance that can still produce pleasure becomes overwhelming. Traditional rehabilitation programs address coping skills, environmental triggers, and behavioral patterns, but they operate on a neurological substrate that is too damaged to respond to these interventions. The circuitry they are trying to rewire is broken at the structural level.

There is currently no FDA-approved medication for methamphetamine use disorder: no equivalent to methadone, no stimulant equivalent of naltrexone. Behavioral therapy (CBT, contingency management) represents the standard of care, and while it helps some patients, the relapse rates tell the story: over 60% of patients relapse within the first year, and long-term recovery rates remain among the lowest of any substance use disorder. The treatment gap is not a gap of effort or intention. It is a gap of mechanism. The tools available do not match the damage the drug produces.​

The Neurological Reset​

GDNF Upregulation: Dopamine Circuit Repair​

Ibogaine upregulates Glial-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF), a protein that supports the survival, growth, and differentiation of dopaminergic neurons, the exact neurons methamphetamine destroys. GDNF elevation initiates repair of the mesolimbic reward pathway, restoring the neurochemical capacity for natural reward signaling. This is not symptom management. It is the beginning of structural reconstruction.​

BDNF Release: Neuroplasticity Window​

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) promotes neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to form new neural connections and reorganize existing ones. Ibogaine triggers significant BDNF release, opening a multi-week window during which therapeutic work, behavioral change, and new pattern formation are dramatically more effective than under ordinary neurological conditions. For meth patients, this window is the first time in months or years that genuine change becomes neurologically possible.​

Anhedonia Resolution: Restoring Pleasure​

The most devastating consequence of chronic meth use is the inability to feel pleasure from anything other than the drug. Ibogaine's dopaminergic repair directly addresses this: patients frequently report that colors seem brighter, food tastes better, music moves them, and emotional connection with others returns in the weeks following treatment. This is not euphoria. It is the gradual return of normal hedonic function that meth had stripped away.​

Psychological Processing: Trauma and Patterns​

Methamphetamine use almost always has an underlying psychological driver: unresolved trauma, self-medication for ADHD or depression, a coping mechanism for circumstances that felt unmanageable. Ibogaine's extended introspective experience gives patients access to these root patterns in a state that facilitates processing rather than avoidance. Combined with our integration therapists, this psychological dimension ensures the neurochemical reset is accompanied by genuine insight​

Ibogaine's Multi-Receptor Mechanism for Stimulant Addiction​

Ibogaine's efficacy against methamphetamine addiction operates through a different primary pathway than its opioid mechanism, but the breadth of receptor interaction is what makes it effective across substance classes. For stimulant addiction, the critical pathways are: GDNF upregulation for dopaminergic neuron repair, NMDA receptor modulation to interrupt the glutamatergic sensitization that drives compulsive stimulant seeking, serotonin transporter interaction for mood restoration, and sigma-2 receptor activation for neuroprotective effects. This multi-target profile addresses the damage methamphetamine produces across multiple neurotransmitter systems simultaneously.

Noribogaine, ibogaine's long-acting metabolite, remains present in the body for weeks following treatment and continues to support the neuroplastic window. For meth patients specifically, noribogaine's sustained serotonergic activity is particularly valuable, because it provides a neurochemical foundation for mood stability during the critical early recovery period when anhedonia is at its peak and relapse risk is highest. Unlike antidepressant medications that take 4 to 6 weeks to reach therapeutic effect, noribogaine's serotonergic support begins immediately and bridges the gap that would otherwise be filled by cravings.

MindScape's methamphetamine protocol accounts for the specific cardiovascular considerations of stimulant-using patients. Chronic meth use can cause cardiomyopathy, hypertension, and vascular damage. Our pre-treatment screening includes comprehensive cardiac evaluation to ensure treatment safety, and our medical team monitors cardiovascular parameters throughout the session. Patients with significant cardiac damage from stimulant use may require additional screening or modified protocols, and our medical director assesses this on a case-by-case basis.​

The Methamphetamine Treatment Path​

Intake & Assessment​

Comprehensive evaluation of your methamphetamine use history, polysubstance involvement, psychiatric status, cardiac health, and treatment goals. Our team assesses for active psychosis, cardiovascular risk, and any factors that require protocol modification. This is a thorough, honest assessment, and we will tell you if ibogaine is not appropriate for your situation.​

Medical Clearance​

12-lead EKG, comprehensive metabolic panel, liver function, CBC, and cardiac evaluation appropriate to your stimulant use history. Any current medications that require tapering are addressed with a physician-supervised timeline. We support you through every step of preparation.​

Arrival & Stabilization​

Private transfer to our Cozumel facility. The first 48-72 hours focus on physiological stabilization, nutritional support, and beginning the TA booster phase. Methamphetamine patients often arrive in states of significant sleep deprivation and nutritional depletion, so we address these foundations before treatment begins.​

Treatment Protocol​

A 10-12 day program including TA booster dosing to initiate GDNF/BDNF upregulation, the HCl flood session under continuous 24/7 medical supervision with cardiac monitoring, and daily integration sessions with our clinical psychology team. The extended introspective experience addresses both the neurochemical and psychological dimensions of stimulant addiction.​

Integration & Aftercare​

90-day structured integration plan beginning at discharge. Programs of 10 days or longer include a one-month aftercare microdose supply, dispensed at discharge. For methamphetamine patients, this phase is critical, because the neuroplastic window created by ibogaine is the opportunity to establish new patterns, rebuild natural reward capacity, and consolidate the psychological insights from treatment. Scheduled follow-ups, peer support access, and clear guidance for sustaining recovery.

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Ave. Rafael E. Melgar 29
San Miguel de Cozumel, Quintana Roo 77600
Mexico

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Fentanyl Treatment with Ibogaine | MindScape Retreat

End fentanyl withdrawal in days with medically supervised ibogaine treatment. 1,000+ patients, zero complications.

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Dr. Bruno Rasmussen Chaves @brunorasmussenchaves

Dr. Bruno Chaves is a prominent Brazilian physician known for his pioneering clinical work using ibogaine to treat stimulant and chemical dependencies. He has been working with Ibogaine in Brazil for more than 20 years, and facilitated treatments for more than 1000 stimulant dependent patients.

He started doing treatments in 1994, at a time when there were there no regulations on Ibogaine at all. His work has stimulated government agencies of Brazil to take steps towards the legalization of the medicine, like a recently published regulation of the hospitalized use of the medicine by Sao Paulo’s state government.

Bruno is a co-author of the paper “Treating Drug Dependency With the Aid of Ibogaine – An Observational Study”, published in 2014, among other Ibogaine papers, and a co-author of the “Clinical Guidelines for Ibogaine-Assisted Detoxification” published by GITA, the Global Ibogaine Therapists Alliance.

Ibogaine, like other psychedelics, such as MDMA, ayahuasca, and psilocybin, has been shown to have important medicinal values. It is extracted from an African root and, besides its powerful mind-altering effects, it really appears to help people to quit drug abuse, sometimes after a single session, or, in less successful cases, helps stabilizing their use. This appears to happen with opiates, stimulants like cocaine and crack cocaine, alcohol, and even with process addictions, like gambling or eating disorders. For example ibogaine commonly stops cravings and withdrawal symptoms of opiate addiction in around 24–36 hours.

However, this treatment has some risks. Ibogaine affects heart rate, and sometimes people can have serious arrhythmias after taking it in inappropriate conditions. Ibogaine shouldn’t be given to people with some health issues, it shouldn’t be mixed with some medicines, and people must do certain lab tests before taking it; so, it is important to have medical supervision throughout the process.

Ibogaine is a scheduled drug in some countries, like the United States; but it is unregulated in the majority of them, such as Brazil, where it is unscheduled, although not yet recognized as a medicine. This status has stimulated a growing network of underground Ibogaine providers, sometimes providing treatments in less than ideal conditions.

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Dr. Chaves operates a medical practice in Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, São Paulo, Brazil, specializing in ibogaine-assisted addiction treatment. He co-founded the Global Ibogaine Therapists Alliance (GITA), and authors research regarding psychedelic medicine and addiction. He administers ibogaine therapy for chemical dependency in a supervised medical setting, and has treated over 2,000 patients using ibogaine since beginning his work with the substance in 1994.​

• Address: R. Quintino Bocaiúva 40, Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo - SP, 18900-000, Brazil
• Phone: +55 14 3372-7187

Is Ibogaine Treatment in Brazil Finally Stepping Out From the Underground?

In this article, Dr. Bruno Rasmussen Chaves describes the current use of Ibogaine treatment in Brazil.

chacruna.net

 

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Ibogaine Treatment for Methamphetamine Addiction​

Methamphetamine addiction can cause permanent brain damage like paranoia, psychosis, and rapid speech, as well as long-term memory loss. For those seeking a way out, Ibogaine treatment offers an unconventional but potentially high-yield path to recovery when it is combined with effective aftercare. Ibogaine is unique because it’s not merely a treatment for withdrawal; it’s an intensive, introspective journey that tackles addiction from physical and psychological angles. Ibogaine therapy provides a fresh treatment approach to methamphetamine addiction when more conventional methods have fallen short.

Ibogaine therapy is a holistic approach that combines detoxification with deep psychological healing. Ibogaine is derived from the iboga plant, and we source our supply from a reputable laboratory in South Africa. Over the last few decades, ibogaine has caught the attention of researchers and addiction specialists for its unique effects on the brain. Ibogaine can significantly reduce cravings and help alleviate the withdrawal symptoms that often lead people to relapse.

When carried out safely and combined with recovery support and aftercare, ibogaine can provide the equivalent of months of recovery in just one night. Here are some of the benefits of ibogaine therapy for methamphetamine addiction:​

• Detoxification: Detoxing from methamphetamine is not just about dealing with the immediate withdrawal symptoms; it requires people to break a vicious cycle. Methamphetamine affects the brain’s reward system, creating a loop of cravings and dependence that is very difficult to break. Ibogaine interrupts this cycle and helps to minimize withdrawal symptoms. Unlike traditional detox methods, ibogaine accelerates the physical detox, allowing patients to transition into recovery without lingering psychological withdrawal symptoms dragging them down.​
• Psychological Healing: One of the most compelling aspects of ibogaine therapy is its ability to foster profound psychological healing. Many people describe it as witnessing their past from a new, detached perspective, making it easier to process the emotional and psychological factors involved in their addiction.​
• Long-Term Recovery Support: Ibogaine’s effects extend far beyond the initial treatment session. By resetting the brain’s reward system, it helps reduce the behaviors that typically lead to relapse. This neurological reset, combined with ongoing therapy and aftercare, creates a more stable foundation for long-term recovery.​

At Experience Ibogaine, we know that every patient’s journey is unique. That’s why we’ve developed a comprehensive treatment process designed to target both the physical and psychological complexities of meth addiction.
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Pre-Treatment Preparation

Before treatment even begins, each patient undergoes a detailed health evaluation to ensure they’re a good fit for ibogaine treatment. This includes a complete medical history, EKGs to check heart function, and extensive blood work to evaluate liver health. If a patient isn’t a suitable candidate, we offer a full refund.

Ibogaine is powerful but not without risks. That’s why we take the screening process seriously. If we identify any red flags, our team will discuss safer alternatives. Our goal is to ensure that each patient’s experience is as safe and effective as possible. When patients test positive for methamphetamines, we flush their system for 7 days to ensure total detox.

We evaluate each patient individually, taking into account their weight, health status, and addiction history. This personalized approach allows us to find the optimal dose that maximizes therapeutic benefits while minimizing risks.​

Ibogaine treatment procedure​

Patients settle into private rooms, where medical staff are on standby. They will also be connected to a heart monitor and have a call bell nearby. Ibogaine is administered in the evening after patients have fasted all day. As it takes effect, patients enter a deeply reflective state. It’s not uncommon to experience vivid visions, emotional releases, and even a sense of spiritual insight. By morning, the most intense part is over, and patients enter a period of rest and reflection. Patients must document their journey to return later since it may not be as lucid to them a year from now.​

Post-treatment care​

Our team conducts follow-up evaluations to ensure you’re physically stable and emotionally supported. We also provide resources for ongoing support and integration because the ibogaine experience is just the beginning of a longer healing journey.​

Treatment options tailored for meth addiction​

Our ibogaine treatment options tailored for methamphetamine addiction include:​

5-Day Meth Treatment​

This shorter option is ideal for those looking to receive treatment quickly, especially if time or budget is a concern. It focuses on intensive treatment to jumpstart recovery. All of our programs also include 5-MeO-DMT sessions to complement the ibogaine session. It is required that patients test negative for meth (and certain other drugs) upon arrival.​

12-Day Full Detox​

For a more thorough approach, this option includes an ibogaine session along with additional therapies to support emotional and mental healing, including PTSD, TBIs, anxiety, and depression. This treatment is designed for those who cannot discontinue meth on their own. In this program, we flush the methamphetamine for a week until they can receive treatment safely.​

16-Day Meth Detox​

For those dealing with multiple substance dependencies, this option provides a comprehensive detox solution, addressing the complexities of poly-drug addiction.​

Why choose Experience Ibogaine?​

Here are some of the advantages we offer during methamphetamine addiction treatment. We have treated many patients with methamphetamine dependence over the last decade.​

• Relaxed and Safe Atmosphere: Our facility is designed to make patients feel safe and comfortable. It isn’t a sterile, clinical environment; it’s a place for deep healing and transformation.​
• Luxurious Amenities: From private rooms to hot tubs and in-room entertainment, we believe that a serene environment and comfortable facilities can contribute to the healing process.​
• Personalized Treatment Approach: Every patient’s journey is different. That’s why we tailor each treatment plan to meet individual needs, ensuring the best chance of success.​
• 24/7 Medical Supervision: Our medical team is on-site around the clock, providing constant monitoring and support.​
• Expert Therapists: Our therapists are skilled in helping patients process their ibogaine experience and integrate it into a sustainable recovery plan.​

Ibogaine has shown promise in treating methamphetamine addiction by reducing psychological withdrawal symptoms and cravings and by addressing the psychological aspects of addiction. However, it is not a cure, and patients require comprehensive aftercare for long-term success. The ibogaine treatment procedure usually lasts between 6 to 12 hours, with recovery usually taking the next day. However, patients often stay with us for 5 to 12 days, depending on their treatment plan and individual needs, to ensure complete detoxification and stabilization.

Ready to take the next step? Contact us today to learn how ibogaine can help you or your loved one break free from methamphetamine addiction.
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Experience Ibogaine Treatment Center
P.º Ensenada 1317-6, Playas de Tijuana, Jardines Playas de Tijuana, 22505 Tijuana, B.C., Mexico

Ibogaine Treatment for Methamphetamine Addiction | Experience Ibogaine

Find relief from methamphetamine addiction with ibogaine treatment at Experience Ibogaine. Discover a compassionate approach to recovery today!

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[mr peabody]

What is ibogaine?​

by Barb Bauer, MS | Psychedelic Science Review

Ibogaine is a compound found in the leaves of an African shrub called Iboga. Studies indicate it may have anti-addictive properties.

Ibogaine is one of several chemical compounds found in the plant (shrub) Tabernanthe iboga. The plant is also known by just its species name, iboga. Traditionally, iboga is used in cultural and religious rituals by the indigenous peoples of Central Africa. They also use it in various dilutions for alleviating hunger, fatigue, and thirst. Some of the other compounds found in iboga are noribogaine, tabernanthine, ibogamine, ibogaline, and catharanthine.

The chemistry of ibogaine

Ibogaine was first isolated by Dybowski and Landrin in 1901. The crystalline structure of ibogaine was determined in 1960. It was first synthesized in the lab by Bûchi, and a simplified total synthesis was published in 2012. A detailed summary of ibogaine synthesis is found in Wasko et al., 2018.

Ibogaine crystallizes into prismatic needles from ethanol. In addition to ethanol, it is soluble in ether, chloroform, acetone, and benzene. It is practically insoluble in water. The hydrochloride salt of ibogaine is soluble in water, as well as methanol and ethanol. It is slightly soluble in acetone and chloroform, but practically insoluble in ether.​

What are the some of the effects of ibogaine?​

Ibogaine is cardiotoxic at micromolar levels. Specifically, studies have noted a prolongation of the heart’s QTc interval. Ibogaine has also been shown to be neurotoxic in rodents. At higher doses, the effects include tremors, convulsions, nervous behavior, and paralysis of the limbs. However, the doses used in these studies are below what would be used in a clinical setting.

In the early 1960s, subjective reports of the anti-addictive properties of ibogaine began surfacing, most notably from a young heroin addict named Howard Lotsof. Lotsof was born in the Bronx, New York in 1943 and was severely addicted to heroin by the time he was 19 years old. By his own account, the desire of he and six of his friends to take heroin disappeared almost immediately after self-administration of an extract of the T. iboga root. Lotsof became one of the most vocal advocates of ibogaine use for the treatment of addiction. In 1985, he was granted a patent for the treatment of cocaine and heroin addiction using ibogaine.

Research indicates that ibogaine may be effective in treating opiate addiction. The data show that it doesn’t just reduce opioid use, but can result in complete abstinence, along with having “long-term positive psychological outcomes.”

A 2018 study found that the positive effects of ibogaine for treating opioid dependence lasted twelve months. In a 2018 review paper, Mash et al. recommended using a single oral dose of ibogaine during detoxification “to transition drug dependent individuals to abstinence.”​

What receptors does ibogaine use?​

In terms of pharmacodynamics, ibogaine shows no clear preferences, having a moderate to a weak affinity for a variety of receptors and transport proteins. As a result, the hallucinogenic effects of ibogaine cannot be attributed to the activation of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor.

However, ibogaine’s principal metabolite noribogaine has a sub-micromolar affinity as a partial agonist of the kappa opioid receptor. The mechanism of the dissociative effects caused by ibogaine may be similar to that of ketamine and other NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) channel blockers.

Ibogaine also binds in the low micromolar range to the mu opioid receptor, as does noribogaine in the sub-micromolar range. This may explain the ability of ibogaine to decrease self-administration of morphine in rats.

Studies indicate that ibogaine’s anti-opiate effects may be due to its non-competitive antagonist action at nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes including α1ß1 and α3ß4.​

More research needed on the constituents of the iboga plant​

Scientists have only begun to scratch the surface to reveal the chemistry, pharmacology, and therapeutic applications of ibogaine and other compounds from Tabernanthe iboga. The early indications for use in treating opioid addiction and alcoholism are encouraging.

Despite what has been learned from studies, much ibogaine’s pharmacodynamics remains a mystery, as research appears to be focusing on its main metabolite noribogaine. Still, there is much to be learned about all the compounds from this naturally occurring source.

Among the many questions that need answering is whether there is an entourage effect with iboga compounds like what is seen with cannabis and the compounds in psilocybin mushrooms (aka magic mushrooms). Clearly, the research and development of iboga compounds is a wide-open area for study.

What is Ibogaine?

Ibogaine is a compound found in the leaves of an African shrub called Iboga, and studies indicate it may have anti-addictive properties.

psychedelicreview.com

 

[Leprechaun]

Anecdotally, psychedelics can help redirect your mental efforts to a different set of habits, but they don’t “cure” any addiction, you have to go into it with the intent of wanting to stop or change certain habits in the first place.

Afterwards you still need to find sources of nourishment for your physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

You build a life out of habits, not peak experiences.

 

[mr peabody]

IBOGAINE CLINIC by David Dardashti

Methamphetamine addiction is one of the most physically and psychologically destructive substance use disorders in existence. As a highly potent, synthetic central nervous system stimulant, meth forces the brain to release unnatural, explosive amounts of dopamine while simultaneously blocking its reuptake. This creates a state of extreme euphoria and hyper-vigilance, but the cost is devastating. Chronic use ravages the body, accelerates cellular aging, and induces severe neurotoxicity, literally burning out the brain’s reward and executive functioning centers. When a user tries to stop, they are hit with crushing exhaustion, deep depression, and terrifying paranoia. For those trapped in this relentless cycle of bingeing and crashing, Ibogaine Therapy for Methamphetamine Addiction offers a groundbreaking intervention, serving as a profound neurochemical reboot to repair damaged dopamine pathways and eliminate the psychological compulsion to use.
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The Limitations of Conventional Meth Rehab

The conventional medical establishment is vastly under-equipped to handle the specific neurological devastation caused by methamphetamine. Unlike opiate addiction, which has FDA-approved Medication-Assisted Treatments (MAT) like Suboxone or Methadone to manage withdrawal, there are absolutely no pharmacological safety nets for meth dependency.

When an individual enters a traditional 30-day inpatient rehab for meth abuse, the clinical protocol is little more than “sleep, eat, and talk.” While cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is important, it cannot undo the immediate structural damage the drug has inflicted on the brain. Patients in early recovery experience severe anhedonia—a total inability to feel pleasure, joy, or motivation. Because their brain’s dopamine receptors are burned out, they face months, or even years, of profound psychological emptiness and cognitive fog (Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome). This unbearable, joyless void is exactly why the relapse rate for methamphetamine is so tragically high.​

The GDNF Reset​

Modern neurological research reveals that ibogaine is uniquely equipped to address the specific cellular damage caused by methamphetamine. The medicine acts as a powerful catalyst for neuroplasticity.

Leading the charge in this clinical application is the Ibogaine Clinic, utilizing the highly precise protocols developed by David Dardashti. According to their clinical methodology, repairing meth burnout requires more than just abstinence; it requires biological repair. The Dardashti protocol utilizes precision-dosed, medical-grade ibogaine to trigger the rapid release of Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). This vital protein acts as a fertilizer for the brain, promoting the survival and regrowth of damaged dopamine neurons. It effectively rewires the brain back to its pre-addiction baseline, rapidly clearing the “brain fog” and lifting the heavy veil of anhedonia. Furthermore, the visionary “Cognitive Rewind” phase allows patients to objectively confront the underlying emotional trauma, insecurities, or severe stress that drove their need for chemical escape.​

Crucial Preparation​

Treating severe methamphetamine dependency with ibogaine requires an incredibly strict, highly supervised preparation phase. Meth is notoriously cardiotoxic, frequently causing severe hypertension, arrhythmias, and weakened heart tissue. Because ibogaine naturally prolongs the heart’s QT interval, cardiac safety is the absolute top priority.

Before arriving at a facility, individuals must pass rigorous medical screenings, including comprehensive EKGs and extensive blood panels. More importantly, a patient must be entirely clear of active methamphetamine before dosing. Mixing an active synthetic stimulant with ibogaine can trigger fatal cardiac events or severe psychosis. The clinic requires a stabilization period to ensure the patient has caught up on sleep and their central nervous system has calmed down. Psychologically, navigating the transition from a hyper-aroused state to a vulnerable, sober state is terrifying. The protocol strongly demands the presence of a “Trusted Companion” to provide vital emotional anchoring and physical safety during this intensive process.​

The 90-Day Aftercare Protocol​

Ibogaine provides a miraculous neurochemical reset, restoring the brain’s ability to produce natural dopamine. However, the first 90 days post-treatment—the Integration Phase—are critical to ensuring the patient physically recovers from the toll the drug took on their body. A structured aftercare plan includes:​

• Adrenal and Nutritional Restoration: Methamphetamine completely obliterates the adrenal glands and starves the body of nutrients. A robust protocol of nutritional IVs, heavy hydration, neuro-supportive supplements (like L-Tyrosine to help rebuild dopamine), and strict, non-negotiable sleep hygiene is required to restore true physical baseline energy.​
• Environmental Detox: Patients must ruthlessly audit their environment. This means severing all ties with using circles, changing phone numbers, and entirely avoiding locations, people, or high-stress jobs that trigger the memory of the drug’s artificial energy.​
• The Clarity Protocol: Complete abstinence from alcohol and marijuana. It is incredibly common for recovering meth users to seek “downers” to manage anxiety, but introducing new mind-altering substances will instantly disrupt the delicate neuroplasticity and GDNF production achieved during treatment.​
• The Reflection Treatment: Because overcoming meth addiction requires profound psychological and structural healing, many successful patients return 3 to 6 months later for a smaller ibogaine “booster.” With the physical cravings entirely gone, this second dose allows the brain to continue its structural repair while the patient dives deeper into emotional regulation.​

Ibogaine clears the biological wreckage and relentless cravings of methamphetamine addiction, offering a profound window of clarity and restored energy. It is up to the individual to use that window to build a healthy, sustainable life.
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Ibogaine Therapy for Methamphetamine Addiction

Methamphetamine addiction is one of the most physically and psychologically destructive substance use disorders in existence. As a highly potent, synthetic central nervous system stimulant…

ibogaineclinic.com

 

[mr peabody]

Ibogaine and meth addiction

Many law enforcement officials say the only way off methamphetamine is death or prison. The drug is reputed to be more addictive than crack cocaine. Yet this week we talked to a Traverse City native who was severely addicted to methamphetamine for 2 years, but has been clean for 90 days. Before recovery, his addiction cost him 2 marriages, his home, two businesses, most of his family relationships and his health. He credits his success to ibogaine, a psychedelic from the root of a shrub found in West Africa.

NE: Tell me a little about yourself.

A: I just turned 40. I turned 40 in the treatment center in Miami, Florida. To be honest, I'm so glad I was there. I grew up in Northern Michigan. I have fond memories of school and I spent a quarter at MSU and flunked out. And then I got an opportunity to move to the West Coast. I was a chef and went to one of the best culinary schools in Europe, and I've run a restaurant and two very successful catering companies. But my drug addiction brought them both down. I was forced out of my catering company because I wasn't performing. It's been one tragedy after another, but I'm in a great place today. And I know I will continue on this path. There is nothing left to lose. I have such a firm grip on what life's about, I can't say I'm fearless, but I know I've seen the worst.

NE: How did you ever get addicted to meth?

A: The crazy story is I went to a treatment facility for alcohol in 2002 and my wife at the time sold my business to my business partner for a dollar because she had power of attorney and packed up her stuff and split. So the day I got out of the treatment center, there was a big moving van in front of my house. I did have a nice house. I was up and coming, I had been up and coming, I've been written up in the newspaper several times for good things.

She couldn't deal with the intensity of my business. Owning your own catering business is very stressful. I'm a go-getter and not afraid to take risks. We took a few hits, with 9-11 and opening a restaurant. There were times I thought I'd never be poor again, and then I was. She wasn't hip to the business climate. She got scared when I was in treatment. My business partner, who didn't have our best interests in mind, convinced her to sell my interest so that there wouldn't be a debt load.

NE: Tell me what happened at the treatment center?

A: In the treatment center you learn all sorts of stuff, you learn all about other drugs, and I found out about crystal meth. When my wife sold my first business and then with her leaving, I was just devastated. I was so attached to my business. I thought it was everything I was. Instead of coming out of the treatment center clean, I immediately started drinking. Then it turned itself into finding drugs, and then the crystal meth became available. I was looking for cocaine, but the dealer guy sold me crystal meth. He told me it's cheaper and lasts longer.

NE: But didn't you know how addictive it was?

A: I didn't know how addictive it was, no. I was kind of depressed, seriously depressed, and didn't care too much about wanting to live. I thought, who cares? This is making me feel better. I didn't want to feel the pain and I didn't know how to get out of the pain, other than to use drugs. I became disinterested in alcohol and cocaine and I was solely going with the crystal meth. I started a second catering company that was competing with my old one. I still had my old reputation. So I had more investors and business partners willing and able to get going. It was very successful, but the crystal meth took over and it became really clear to my business partners that I wasn't performing.

NE: But doesn't meth make you more productive?

A: It does for awhile. I catered for the TV show Extreme Home Makeover. It was 10-day event; 24 hours a day, and I pretty much did it all. We were serving 500 meals a day for 10 days straight. I pretty much went the whole 10 days and slept two hours a day. I was highly productive, highly productive.

NE: Were you grouchy?

A: Only when I was out of the drug. The thing about crystal meth is, I was on it for two years straight with only six days of not using. There are drugs similar to meth, that help people with ADD and ADHD, and I've been diagnosed with ADHD. So finding crystal meth kind of made me feel like I was normal. I had all this creative energy going on in my head so that a lot of times it was hard to focus. In a strange way, it allowed me to bring things together and focus. It makes you feel like you're large and in charge. It's crazy. It increases libido by 500%, but it can get out of control.

NE: Tell me about the six days you didn't use meth.

A: One was where my drug dealer got deported to Mexico, and the other time, I didn't have enough money to get it together. It was a very tough three days. I was still working, and I had to keep it together. It's challenging. Every cell of your body is craving what you don't have - it's a pain you can't even describe. And all I wanted to do was sleep. You can't keep your eyes open no matter what. It was scary when I caught myself falling asleep while I was driving.

NE: Was it expensive?

A: Not as expensive as cocaine, I guess. My habit was $50 to $100 a day. When I started, it was much less, $25 a day. I started to sell cocaine to keep up with the meth. I tried to sell meth, but I couldn't keep it around to sell. I was getting meth for $330 for a quarter ounce, which is a pretty good price. I tried to buy enough for other people, but I just got in the way.

NE: Who were your fellow smokers?

A: I was leading this weird double life. I would hang out with a bunch of hardcore lowlife drug users -- I put myself in that category as well -- and I also had this peer group that I had from my culinary career who had no idea what I was doing. Those worlds never crossed in the 2 years I was using meth. It's a not very glamorous drug. I was somewhat ashamed. Had I been a big-time coke junkie, who knows?

NE: Did your skin break out? Did you lose a lot of weight?

A: My teeth didn't fall out, never got meth mouth or acne and my blood pressure was good. But I went from 220 to 140 pounds when I checked into the treatment center in Miami. I was very near death, completely malnourished skin and bones. I had stopped exercising; I stopped everything except smoking crystal meth. And I had a new baby on the way. I used right up until after she was born, and then things rapidly fell apart after she was born. It was the universe's way of getting me straight.

NE: So how did it all come down?

A: My partners kicked me out of the business right before the baby was born. They were forcing me out, and I made a fatal error and got mad, F--- you, I'm out of here. You guys suck! They were very intelligent -- they used the old business school ploy to force me out by taking a lot of my creative control away, which is my thing, and I became an employee and I said, Forget this! I'm a highly creative individual, and that's why my companies have done so well. I often find that drug addicts are highly creative and highly intelligent. When I wasn't using, my life was great. The moment I started using, it disintegrated in just two years. It just devastates people faster than anything else.

My girlfriend knew something was up. She was pregnant at the time with my daughter and she also has three other children - it's not as out of the trailer park as it sounds. God bless her, she loved me so much, she didn't want the truth to be what it was. Denial was a good word in that situation. My brother intervened, he is savvy. He told her and said we have to get him some help. As soon as she got hip to it, she pretty much said, you gotta go and get help. At first, I was convinced I had it under control, except I fell from grace.

I sensed an intervention coming on and I told them not to, I didn't want to go through another intervention. That first treatment center was a horrible, horrible experience. I didn't get a lot out of it. They beat you down, make you feel unworthy, an addict, and you'll always be that way unless you do it their way. I thought, forget it. I'll kill myself because I don't want to do this. I didn't want to live without the drug. I just didn't want to feel the pain of being human. I had not learned how to cope as a child. Instead I would just escape. I had finally found the perfect escape. Most addicts don't have the coping skills that other people who don't use drugs regularly have. So we are these crippled adolescents in 40-year-old bodies who stick their heads in the sand.

My brother was very concerned for my life, and he's a spiritual guy, a practicing Buddhist and an alternative thinker. Certain kinds of experiences with drugs can take you back to yourself, before you poisoned your body, to a time of innocence. The whole experience can serve as a reset button. I don't think that drugs and alcohol are necessarily bad, although some people are naturally inclined to be addicts. They can be great teachers, but once we start abusing something, no matter what it is, physically and spiritually it abuses us back. You have to treat these plant masters as if they're spiritual entities.

My brother discovered a psychedelic called ibogaine, an anti-addiction drug which comes from the eboga plant in Africa. He did a lot of research, and thought it was something worth trying. I said, F--- you, I'm not interested, and continued using. I finally submitted -- I wanted to raise my daughter, and I felt I still had something to live for.

NE: But isn't ibogaine banned in the United States? Where did you go for treatment?

A: I went through recovery in Miami through the Holistic Addiction Treatment Center and they have a loose relationship with Dr. Mash (a professor of neurology at the University of Miami and a leading proponent of the drug). The drug was administered in Cancun Mexico and I was there for five or six days.

NE: Tell me what your treatment was like.

A: I was prepped for two days in Cancun and then at 10 a.m. on the morning of Friday, I was given the ibogaine. And then I was under the influence for close to 36 hours, which was an extraordinarily long time, but my body absorbed it. It was too long for me. There were times I thought, Oh god, please let me come down?

There aren't a lot of words for some of the stuff that I saw or experienced, other than I was close to God in so many different ways. It was administered under a very clinical setting -- it was given to me in the form of capsules. I was hooked up to an IV and a blood pressure cuff, and a body temperature sort of deal. I thought, I'm in a safe place. I was with a doctor and two nurses who watched me around the clock. They hooked me up to this machine; I was in a really comfortable bed, the room is completely dark, and I had these eye goggle things, headphones, and an mp3 player with six to eight hours of tribal drumming with some underlying tracks of rhythms that your neuro-pathway responds to.

Dr. Mash is one of the world's leading brain scientists. She's hip to how your brain responds to sound and music. I wouldn't say it was hypnosis. In traditional ceremonies there are similar approaches on a more fundamental level. With peyote, an Indian sits at the door of the teepee and plays a rhythmic drum -- it's slow and it's fast, heavy and then it's light. It helps the person with their journey.

Incredible visions

I started to feel it after 45 minutes; it's a huge body rush. You feel warm, your fingers and toes are tingly, and then it comes on really fast. You can see what your mind is suddenly creating. I created these incredible visions -- so fast that I couldn't process what the experiences were. After awhile, it slowed down. I tell people, with the slot machines, the three columns are spinning at different rates of speed. Within these columns were experiences I remembered, some I didn't know what they were, strange random things. There were these incredible patterns of geometric patterns that I would become, I would look at them and they would change. If I focused on one, I'd get pulled into it, or become part of it. Some of it was childhood trauma that I would re-experience in a peaceful, gentle way. It allowed me to process some of this stuff that I hadn't processed before.

It allowed me to see me, the 8-year-old child, and have compassion for him and kind of tell him he was okay and he was safe in all those things that were not terminal and he could get on with his life. Some of it was random crazy stuff. Like these childhood toys.

We had this thing called a Big Wheel. I was able to ride this Big Wheel and play. When you get on it and peddle really fast and the wheel spun, it was like being a child. I was never scared. Some get scared. I think it's not letting yourself go with the experience.

There are so many people who have profound experiences where someone came to them and said stop using drugs. But that didn't happen to me. I had an overwhelming experience of peace and harmonic connection with myself, the planet and the universe. There were some dark scary moments of things I couldn't describe. Some people see snakes or spiders. I didn't see any of that, but I felt the presence of darkness. I didn't push it away. I hung with it for a period of time and that passed on. Most of my ibogaine experience was in a beautiful bright light with lots of colors. I could smell colors.

Afterwards, I first tried to sleep and I couldn't sleep. I was not tired at all and I was up for another three to four days. You get a huge hit of serotonin. I went back to Miami. I did have some counseling. They let me process it; not everybody at this treatment center opts for the extra credit of ibogaine; I was one of the few people and we kind of stuck together. Some didn't understand taking drugs to get off drugs. But the people that did were of the same mind, and we processed our stuff tighter with a therapist as well. There were six people who opted for ibogaine and they are still not using.

NE: I know that part of the counseling involved being told not to return to your old group of friends who used meth. Was this difficult for you?

A: No it wasn't because of my dual life element. But a lot of people who were with me at the center were doing really good until they went home. Their friends are still using and they fell right back into it.

NE: How much did your treatment cost?

A: The treatment center alone was $21,000 and the ibogaine experience was $5,500. I didn't have any insurance at the time. I was there for in-patient treatment, which included six days in Cancun. We went to a gym, did aikido, yoga, went to a spa every Saturday. Then we lived in this outpatient house, it was reality based. Some centers lock you up and keep you out of the general population. These are called lock-down facilities. With this treatment center, you had to want recovery because you could easily use drugs. There were people who left halfway through and you don't get your money back.

NE: How do you feel now?

A: Dr. Mash has done studies that show our receptor sites are put to pre-drug abuse status after the ibogaine experience. Some of that can be argued because it's just one study, but I know in my heart of hearts that I'm physically and mentally as good or better than I was in my 20s. My body is coming back faster than I expected it to. I'm 175 pounds. I exercise daily, do yoga. I have a couple of dogs, and I'm always busy with them.

I'm not working right now by choice because I can float a little bit longer. I'm going to go back to school and get a degree in herbal medicine, if not go for a natural pathics degree. I'm going to take my culinary background and wrap it with nutritional science and get into the healing field. It's one way to stay on track, and I can help people. Which I'm good at.

Im also going to do some marketing for ibogaine, work as a liaison between Dr. Mash and the treatment facilities on the West Coast. I have to wait another three months. No one is going to take 90 days of recovery seriously. It'll help me stay clean.

NE: Do you have cravings now?

A: I don't ever want to go back to where I was. I don't want to lose my family, my life, the things I created. Every once in awhile when stress hits, or pressure hits, it crosses my mind, but it goes through my head so fast. To think of crystal meth today - what was I doing? What was I thinking? It definitely wasn't me.

Some people don't have as many resources as others. And you pray for them. You see people in the treatment facility and think, oh gosh, they're not getting it. Or there's so much pain. One 19 year-old kid, a world class surfer, he didn't do ibogaine -- his dad was in prison. He grew up with that whole concept, and he admired his dad, but he did things that put him in a place where he went to prison. He started to get it, but he was one of the kids who didn't make it.

NE: Any last words on your recovery?

A: Ibogaine is so important. It's not too good to be true and I'm a living example of it. I/m so lucky to have found it, and I wouldn't be clean without it.

https://www.northernexpress.com/news/feature/article-2192-addiction-to-meth/​

 

[mr peabody]

Offshore Ibogaine Clinics In Mexico, Portugal, and Brazil ​

by William Leonard Pickard - October 7, 2024

Therapeutic centers for the administration of ibogaine have been proliferating for over a decade, operating exclusively in countries with less reactivity to the treatment of patients with ibogaine for addictions and emotional trauma. Mexico is the primary offshore jurisdiction, although clinics have also been established in Portugal, Brazil, Eastern Europe, Thailand, Canada, the Caribbean, and other areas with less severe regulatory environments than the United States and Britain. Ibogaine is a Schedule 1 substance in the U.S. and no state has yet decriminalized its use.

For this series, phone and video interviews were conducted with the founders of the principle ibogaine clinics in Mexico. They include Beond in Cancun, Transcend (formerly Clear Sky) and Ambio Bio in Tijuana, Awakening the Dream in San Miguel de Allende, and Ibogaine Clinic in Playa del Carmen. I also conducted interviews with Bruno Rasmussen’s clinic in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Tabula Rasa in Quinta da Fe, Portugal. The present list is non-exhaustive, with additional ibogaine clinics emerging and which may be reviewed in the course of this series.

One positive discovery is that the clinics, while somewhat competitive, also aim to improve treatment protocols through sharing of their experiences. For example, with fentanyl dependency having effectively replaced classic heroin addictions, clinics say they are now seeing patients with polydrug mixtures in their bodies including the veterinary tranquilizer xylazine, many of whom are unaware their fentanyl is diluted with this drug.

Detoxification from such drug combinations presents continuing challenges to ibogaine clinicians, prompting the exchange of relevant data on treatment episodes to be exchanged among clinics. As noted in a recent story in the New York Times, “Ibogaine is known to induce arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat, which in severe cases can lead to fatal cardiac arrest.”

While hundreds of thousands of people are estimated to have taken ibogaine worldwide and research data is sparse, a total of 33 ibogaine-related deaths have been publicly reported to date. In contrast, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recorded 3,362 deaths among the more than 1.4 million people who sought non-ibogaine related treatment for alcohol or drug addiction from inpatient, outpatient and residential treatment programs in 2015.

Ibogaine treatment centers are often founded by those who have experienced ibogaine for the treatment of trauma or addiction, and by physicians who, in the course of their medical training, encountered ibogaine and recognize the promise of this class of compounds. Among offshore clinics, the field is rapidly maturing, protocols are becoming more refined and effective, and follow-up centers for integration are appearing.

Integration is now recognized as essential to successful ibogaine treatment, and select retreats in Mexico are referring patients to a month-long, drug-free, post-ibogaine setting in a remote area. Interestingly, several ibogaine facilities offer a 5-MeO-DMT followup experience after the “gray days” of ibogaine where people often feel sluggish after treatment. Although an unanticipated development among the centers, anecdotal reports affirm the validity of this approach.

Beond Ibogaine Clinic, established by Tom Feegel and Talia Eisenberg, is one of the largest treatment centers in Mexico that provides a model for other clinics. Beond’s clinical, scientific, and ethical foundations may be exemplary in terms of safety and effectiveness for those seeking to create ibogaine facilities. Beond has 8 full-time licensed physicians, 19 full-time ICU-certified RNs, and extensive adjunct therapeutic team members. Feegel notes that they are “one team, with one purpose: to help people benefit from ibogaine assisted therapy for health and optimization.”

Beond treats patients “no matter where they start,” says Feegel. “Chemical dependency, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or none of these conditions.”

Beond’s patients include those addicted to opiates (primarily fentanyl), along with cocaine and methamphetamine, those with mental health issues, and those seeking to optimize their lives. A most promising aspect of Beond is its Horizons program designed to enhance cognitive abilities, this program aligns with the findings of a Nature Medicine paper published January, 2024, in which Stanford researchers, co-led by Nolan Williams, investigated magnesium-ibogaine therapy in veterans with traumatic brain injuries.

“Neuropsychological testing (NPT) revealed areas of improvement after treatment, particularly in processing speed and executive function, without any detrimental changes observed,” write the study’s authors.

Current Research Applied at Clinics

Beond is the first clinic to apply the Stanford observations to healthy adults seeking improvement in performance. The results of these treatments, like the outcomes of all of Beond’s patients, are recorded in detail to match U.S. standards (i.e. “HIPAA compliant”). The Beond database will not only serve as support for clinical trials of ibogaine in the U.S., but also potentially validate the Stanford observation on heightened cognition in adults.

Using robust digital technologies, Beond collects 176 data points on every patient and client throughout their visit, including a range of physiotherapeutic assessments, and employs a dozen standard diagnostic instruments for quantitative monitoring of common psychiatric disorders to measure treatment outcomes and improve efficacy.

Beond also is politically involved with several states’ legislators and governors, and actively engages in discussion with Native American tribes and universities to expand ibogaine treatment for fentanyl addiction.The clinic also treats a variety of law enforcement and special forces combat veterans. Beond, in a remarkable act of transparency, recently publicly offered an ibogaine retreat to congressional and government officials. Beond carefully refers patients to Inscape Recovery after their ibogaine experience, where Carlos Lopez, MD and staff encourage extensive drug-free reintegration.

Ambio Life Sciences, co-founded by Jonathan Dickinson, Trevor Milnar, and Jose Inzunza, provided patients for the study at Stanford conducted by Williams. In this study, special forces veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) from blast exposures were given psychometric testing at Stanford before and after treatment with ibogaine. With no university involvement in handling ibogaine, Williams and Ambio provided a path for accelerated study of novel drugs by not requiring FDA approval for human research. This work was supported by Marcus and Amber Capone, the founders of Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS).

Mission Within, also in Tijuana, was founded by Martin Polanco, MD, and similarly focuses on special forces veterans. Together with Jesse Gould of the Heroic Hearts project, the clinic is supporting a study at the University of Texas in Austin for addressing prolonged grief among families of deceased warfighters through treatment with psilocybin or 5-MeO-DMT.

Awakening the Dream (Botanicos Desintoxicacion Tratamiento Natural S.C.), operated by Rocky Caravelli, provides comfortable but mandatory detoxification prior to the ibogaine experience.

Tabula Rasa, directed by the Alvaro de Ferranti, applies rational and more holistic treatments, with extensive aftercare at its facility and upon return to the community.

The primary clinic in Brazil is directed by Bruno Rasmussen, MD in Sao Paulo. Now Chief Medical Officer at Bienstar Wellness, Dr. Rasmussen has worked with ibogaine for 28 years and has treated over 2000 patients. His treatment cohort is composed primarily of those addicted to crack and powder cocaine endemic to the region. Rasmussen also conducts the MAPS study in Brazil on the use of MDMA for PTSD in Latin America.

New in Cancun is Transcend, still under reformation from the prior Clear Sky clinic. As one staff member explained, “We are applying everything that we’ve learned from 12 years in Clear Sky.” Dr. Fernando Rivas, the Chief Medical Officer at Transcend, has an ICU trauma background and is a specialist in critical care. “We have the best of Clear Sky, at an upscale facility, and intend to lift the bar for safety and monitoring by utilizing best-in-class technology.”

Before inexplicably shutting its doors, Clear Sky treated “4,800 patients, with no fatalities.” Transcend then acquired Clear Sky’s intellectual property after being founded by Jon Vinnik, a Wharton MBA. Vinnik worked for the late international financier and trader Marc Rich in Switzerland as head of Rich’s investment operation in Moscow before Rich’s conviction for tax evasion and his eventual pardon by Clinton. Vinnik, the founder of the Vinnik companies and Rock Spring Investments currently also serves as the consul general for the Republic of Serbia to the State of Wyoming.

Until government regulation and mandated treatment regimens are adopted after rigorous clinical trials, several other clinics also remain quite varied in their character, approaches, and beliefs. The cordial Rabbi David Dardashti and his son Gavriel operate the retreat “Ibogaine Clinic by David Dardashti” in Playa del Carmen. Notably, the Playa del Carmen staff suggests that detoxification protocols are unnecessary, and that patients are directly exposed to ibogaine and withdraw during the event. Many are alleged to report “no withdrawal symptoms.”

According to Dardashti, tuning into the lunar cycle may have an impact on ibogaine treatment’s efficacy. “Our findings suggest that the combination of quantum electrodynamics and the gravitational pull of the moon can have an incredibly powerful impact on electrons,” Dardashti wrote in an article for Yahoo Finance earlier this year. “We believe that this discovery could provide useful insight into the production of glial cells and determine the best times to use ibogaine.”

Summary Thoughts

This overview of the most prominent ibogaine clinics suggests that, while treatment centers are in their infancy, most appear to be guided by rigorous principles of effectiveness and patient safety. Notably, and to the benefit of patients, clinics compete to acquire competent staff from each other, with high value placed upon the more experienced and credentialed. Clinics often exchange information on refining treatment protocols and accessing the most advanced technologies, support and advise academic research, and retain records pertinent to eventual clinical trials in the U.S.

The clinics I spoke with emphasize the importance of vetting those with cardiac conditions or who are too debilitated for treatment. They also assist with political aspects of supporting ibogaine treatment for warfighters and the public, and research new applications of ibogaine for trauma, TBI, addictions, and cognitive performance.

This series will explore details of the most recent treatment protocols developed by ibogaine clinics and also offer perspectives from those following this rapidly growing market. It will examine the future of ibogaine treatment, both abroad and in the U.S.

Disclaimer: William Leonard Pickard is an advisor to JLS, a venture capital fund that invests in plant-based and psychedelic medicines. JLS has invested in Universal Ibogaine, a Canadian company which seeks to provide ibogaine therapy.

Offshore Ibogaine Clinics In Mexico, Portugal, and Brazil - Lucid News

In part one of a series of articles on ibogaine clinics, researcher Leonard Pickard looks at the history and treatment protocols of clinics in Mexico, Brazil and Portugal.

www.lucid.news

 

[mr peabody]

My ibogaine experience

by David Graham Scott

This is an account of my experiences of the drug ibogaine. At the time I was a long-term user of methadone linctus. I found it impossible to deal with the hellish withdrawal symptoms experienced in trying to come off methadone. I hoped that ibogaine might break my habit once and for all.

On a Thursday night I took a test dose of ibogaine hydrochloride. Edward (my guide) said it was roughly 200mg. After 35-40 mins I could feel the drug start to take effect. I looked at my hand and it seemed so primitive, perhaps Neanderthal. It felt like some form of anesthesia and a distortion of sound and vision were noticed. What I do remember though was an intense connection to the old photographs and toys I'd brought (I thought a connection with my childhood would be healing). It was really a very emotional experience but I was apprehensive as regards taking the full dose the next day. I felt taking 7 or 8 times this dose could kill me but, according to my body weight, that's what it was going to take to end my methadone addiction.

I took the ibogaine at 10:20am on the Friday. I took four capsules to begin with. The fifth Id take later. After about 40 mins I felt a heavy emotional trauma come over me. I grew very apprehensive re the dose and feared that I may die. Edward reassured me. I lay down to let the ibogaine work. Light and sound were being affected. The yellow painted wall opposite me glowed with a burning intensity. I knew that this was going to be a strong experience. The noise of the underground trains became amplified into the sound of a thousand Nazi bombers. I felt the approach of something huge, something menacing perhaps. I called out Bwiti 3 times. The words appeared in my head in large green slimy letters.

The first visions that I experienced when closing my eyes were yellow grids stretching into the empty darkness of space. These stellar grids then took me into another dark and ominous landscape with a particularly eerie resonance. A strange sound permeated the atmosphere, it was like a thousand million aircraft drifting overhead. The hum or resonance permeated the whole experience and I understood this to be an essential component of existence, a binding force that was always there but the ibogaine helped me recognize it. I then felt I was on board a strange spacecraft viewing the landscape before me. Small portraits drifted by of myself as a child. They stopped when I contracted a hellish skin condition at age 17.

This was where my development was seriously affected and I journeyed into heavy depression and low self-esteem. Next a figure that had haunted me for years appeared. It was the Chinese torture victim from Georges Batailles Tears of Eros. This photograph of a young man being systematically sliced to pieces was the most disturbing image I'd ever seen. The text mentioned that a large dose of opium had been administered to the victim prior to the torture. A curiously beatified expression was on the guys face. In my trance state the figure flew towards me in an inset box. He was glowing silver, completely transcended from the torture he was undergoing. The beauty outweighed the horror. I realized then that I too had been a torture victim. I had been torturing myself with opiate addiction.

These are the key moments of the experience. There's a lot of it that I can't recall. The intensity was often overwhelming and it was impossible to take on board all of the information. Ataxia hit me heavily and I found it impossible to walk without help. Jagged lines appeared around lights and the strange resonance permeated my head for a long time after the visions ended.

I was a little sick and went to bed. I didn't feel great but it wasn't withdrawal at least. I felt I was being cured of my addiction.

It took me about 3 days to start walking properly again. I did have residual withdrawal symptoms but it was nothing I couldn't handle. I'd say it cleared 85% of the rattling. There was no way I'd feel this good if I'd tried to come straight off methadone. I didn't have much strength over the following 2 weeks but its gradually coming back. It's now the 15th day since I used to take methadone and I feel really good. Ibogaine has ended my addiction. The anguish of depression has been vanquished, I am whole again!

*From the article here :

Strange Lenses: An Interview with documentarian David Graham Scott | GonzoToday

An interview with BBC documentary filmmaker and former opiate addict David Graham Scott by GonzoToday contributor C.A. Seller.

gonzotoday.com

 

[mr peabody]

​

Ibogaine therapy for methamphetamine addiction in Mexico​

PlacidWay Medical Tourism - Feb 04, 2026

Methamphetamine addiction creates a devastating neurological cycle that traditional rehabilitation often struggles to break. For patients seeking an alternative path, Ibogaine therapy in Mexico has emerged as a leading solution, offering a "neuro-chemical reset" that interrupts severe cravings and alleviates the crushing psychological exhaustion of withdrawal. Unlike standard rehabs that manage symptoms, medical Ibogaine treatment targets the root receptor dysfunctions caused by chronic stimulant abuse.

Mexico has become the global hub for this therapy, providing a legal and medically regulated environment where JCI-accredited standards meet holistic care. From Tijuana's medical district to the serene coasts of Cancun and Rosarito, specialized clinics offer comprehensive protocols designed specifically for the unique metabolic and cardiac needs of methamphetamine users.​

Key Takeaways: Ibogaine for Meth in Mexico​

Before planning your medical journey, consider these critical facts about treatment packages and outcomes:​

• Cost Efficiency: Treatment typically ranges from $5,500 to $12,000 USD, offering savings of 40-60%, as compared with non-medical luxury rehabs in the US or Europe.​
• Medical Necessity: Unlike opioid protocols, meth treatment often requires a 7-10 day stabilization period to safely "flush" stimulants before the Ibogaine flood dose.​
• Package Inclusions: Most comprehensive packages include airport transfers (San Diego/Tijuana), full cardiac workups (EKG/Liver Panel), 24/7 nursing care, and post-treatment integration coaching.​
• Success Metrics: Clinics report that the "dopamine reset" significantly reduces PAWS (Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome), which is the primary cause of relapse in meth users.​

How ibogaine interrupts meth addiction

Ibogaine is not a maintenance drug but a psychoactive interrupter that resets dopamine pathways and restores neuroplasticity, offering a biological window for recovery.

Chronic methamphetamine use severely damages the brain's dopamine receptors, leading to an inability to feel pleasure (anhedonia) and intense, relentless cravings. Ibogaine, a psychoactive alkaloid derived from the Tabernanthe iboga shrub, functions as a powerful interruption to this cycle. It is not a "substitution" therapy like Methadone; rather, it interacts with multiple neurotransmitter systems simultaneously.

Biologically, Ibogaine metabolizes into Noribogaine, which remains in the system to promote neurotrophic factors (GDNF). This effectively "rewires" damaged neural pathways, rapidly restoring the brain's baseline dopamine function. For meth users, this means the profound depression and fatigue typically associated with withdrawal are significantly blunted, allowing them to engage in therapy weeks or months sooner than they would in traditional rehab.​

Why choose Mexico for ibogaine treatment?​

Mexico offers a legal, regulated framework for Ibogaine administration, combining advanced medical infrastructure with experienced clinical teams inaccessible in the US.

While Ibogaine remains a Schedule I substance in the United States, it is unregulated and legal to possess and administer in Mexico. This legal status has allowed a robust medical infrastructure to develop, particularly in border cities like Tijuana and resort areas like Cancun. Unlike underground providers, legitimate Mexican clinics operate under strict medical models, often employing board-certified doctors, anesthesiologists, and ACLS-trained nurses.

The proximity to the US is a major factor; many clinics in Baja California offer private transport from San Diego International Airport, making the logistics seamless for North American patients. Furthermore, the concentration of expertise in Mexico is unmatched globally—clinical teams here have performed thousands of treatments, giving them unique insight into managing complex cases involving polysubstance use and high-tolerance methamphetamine dependency.

Ibogaine Therapy for Meth Addiction in Mexico: Cost, Safety & Success Rates

Complete guide to Ibogaine therapy for methamphetamine addiction in Mexico. Compare costs ($5,500-$12,000), safety protocols, success rates, and medical detox packages in Tijuana and Cancun.

www.placidway.com

 

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Methamphetamine addiction can cause a wide range of physical and mental effects, including increased heart rate, heightened energy levels, euphoria, irritability, talkativeness, and racing blood pressure. The side effects of methamphetamine abuse can be unpleasant and severe, including nausea, bowel loosening, aggressive impulses, sweating, jaw clenching, appetite suppression, and increased body temperature.

To ensure the safety of our clients during ibogaine treatment, Tabula Rasa Retreat requires that methamphetamine users stop taking the drug at least three days before arriving at Tabula Rasa Retreat.

Methamphetamine damages the synapse pathways in the brain, which can lead to withdrawal symptoms. Roughly 87% of long-term users of crystal meth will experience withdrawal effects.Abrupt discontinuation of the substance can lead to an array of withdrawal symptoms, which can be intense and severe.

Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include insomnia or excessive sleepiness, tremors or shaking, muscle weakness or aches, cravings for methamphetamine, and increased heart rate and blood pressure.

On the emotional front, most users can expect prolonged depression, anhedonia, anxiety or panic attacks, extreme irritability, paranoia or hallucinations, and even suicidal thoughts or actions

However, ibogaine treatment can help to reduce these symptoms. Ibogaine rebuilds the damaged synapse pathways caused by methamphetamine, leading to a sharp decrease in the desire to use the drug. While not all users experience a complete disappearance of their cravings, ibogaine can reduce cravings for methamphetamine.

At Tabula Rasa Retreat, we provide a holistic aftercare program, which is designed to offer ongoing support and guidance for clients as they move towards a brighter future. Our team of dedicated support staff will work with clients to overcome lingering cravings and move forward in a positive direction.

Our detox program offers clarity of thought and the chance for a fresh start, making Tabula Rasa Retreat the ideal place to start your journey towards sobriety from methamphetamine addiction. Take the first step towards a brighter future, with the support and guidance of our team by your side, and we will help you figure out whether ibogaine therapy is the best option for you.

There are lots of suspect ibogaine clinics. Only one or two offer the combination of safety, holistic approach and affordability that you will find in the serene Alentejo setting of Tabula Rasa.
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Methamphetamine Addiction - Methamphetamine Detox Center

Methamphetamine addiction damages the brain, and withdrawal is severe Ibogaine treatment reduces withdrawals and cravings. Contact us today!

www.tabularasaretreat.com

 

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Using magic mushrooms for meth addiction​

Michael Laws talks to Manu Caddie from Matawai Bio about the potential of using indigenous magic mushrooms as a pathway to treat methamphetamine addiction in New Zealand.​

 

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Dr. Bruno Rasmussen Chaves @brunorasmussenchaves

Dr. Bruno Chaves is a prominent Brazilian physician known for his pioneering clinical work using ibogaine to treat stimulant and chemical dependencies. He has been working with Ibogaine in Brazil for more than 20 years, and facilitated treatments for more than 1000 stimulant dependent patients.

He started doing treatments in 1994, at a time when there were there no regulations on Ibogaine at all. His work has stimulated government agencies of Brazil to take steps towards the legalization of the medicine, like a recently published regulation of the hospitalized use of the medicine by Sao Paulo’s state government.

Bruno is a co-author of the paper “Treating Drug Dependency With the Aid of Ibogaine – An Observational Study”, published in 2014, among other Ibogaine papers, and a co-author of the “Clinical Guidelines for Ibogaine-Assisted Detoxification” published by GITA, the Global Ibogaine Therapists Alliance.

Ibogaine, like other psychedelics, such as MDMA, ayahuasca, and psilocybin, has been shown to have important medicinal values. It is extracted from an African root and, besides its powerful mind-altering effects, it really appears to help people to quit drug abuse, sometimes after a single session, or, in less successful cases, helps stabilizing their use. This appears to happen with opiates, stimulants like cocaine and crack cocaine, alcohol, and even with process addictions, like gambling or eating disorders. For example ibogaine commonly stops cravings and withdrawal symptoms of opiate addiction in around 24–36 hours.

However, this treatment has some risks. Ibogaine affects heart rate, and sometimes people can have serious arrhythmias after taking it in inappropriate conditions. Ibogaine shouldn’t be given to people with some health issues, it shouldn’t be mixed with some medicines, and people must do certain lab tests before taking it; so, it is important to have medical supervision throughout the process.

Ibogaine is a scheduled drug in some countries, like the United States; but it is unregulated in the majority of them, such as Brazil, where it is unscheduled, although not yet recognized as a medicine. This status has stimulated a growing network of underground Ibogaine providers, sometimes providing treatments in less than ideal conditions.

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Dr. Chaves operates a medical practice in Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, São Paulo, Brazil, specializing in ibogaine-assisted addiction treatment. He co-founded the Global Ibogaine Therapists Alliance (GITA), and authors research regarding psychedelic medicine and addiction. He administers ibogaine therapy for chemical dependency in a supervised medical setting, and has treated over 2,000 patients using ibogaine since beginning his work with the substance in 1994.​

• Address: R. Quintino Bocaiúva 40, Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo - SP, 18900-000, Brazil
• Phone: +55 14 3372-7187

Is Ibogaine Treatment in Brazil Finally Stepping Out From the Underground?

In this article, Dr. Bruno Rasmussen Chaves describes the current use of Ibogaine treatment in Brazil.

chacruna.net

 

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Ibogaine Can Erase Addiction ‘Virtually Overnight’



The addiction crisis continues to claim lives and devastate communities. A little-known powerful psychedelic called ibogaine has been touted for its remarkable ability to erase years of addiction and withdrawal in just one session. But ibogaine remains illegal in the U.S., causing thousands of Americans to cross borders into places like Mexico and Brazil to receive treatment.

WSJ visits a clinic called Ambio Life Sciences in Tijuana, Mexico, to follow one patient's journey through this intense and unorthodox treatment.​

 

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Addicts turning to ibogaine as a last resort

by Stefanie Cohen

After suffering from anxiety and depression, freelance writer Stefanie Cohen sought help at an ibogaine clinic similar to the one where banking heir Matthew Mellon had received treatment and was about to check into again before his death last week. Cohen found the results so effective, she worked for a time for the Ibogaine Institute, writing web copy for the center. Here, she tells what it’s like taking the drug and why so many people are turning to it for help…

I’ve been running through a gauntlet of people for the past four hours, answering questions, laughing at jokes, getting spit on, hit on, and molested. At every turn there’s another person who wants something from me. Some shout. Some whisper so quietly I can barely hear them. And their faces and bodies keep morphing, too — they get fat and thin and tall and short all within a matter of seconds. My parents are there, somewhere, and my sisters, too, but I can’t find them right now because a giant man with six faces is coming right for me.

None of these visions are real. I’m actually lying on my back with a heart monitor taped to my chest in an ibogaine clinic in Rosarito, Mexico. Earlier in the night I swallowed three pills of ibogaine — an alkaloid derived from the African Tabernanthe iboga plant — and I’m in the middle of what feels like the most demented fever dream my mind could possibly imagine. Which is exactly what it is.

Last week, the banking heir Matthew Mellon died on his way to an ibogaine clinic in Cancun, where he was to receive treatment for his $100,000-a-month OxyContin addiction. He reportedly died before he checked into the center, which he had been treated at in the past. Although he was not receiving ibogaine therapy when he died, his passing has brought attention to the plant medicine, which has been used as a remedy for opioid addiction since the 1960s. Every year, more and more desperate Americans hooked on heroin and pharmaceuticals like OxyContin flood to clinics in Mexico and other countries to receive the cutting-edge addiction treatment. Ibogaine is illegal in the US, but it’s unregulated in many other countries, including Mexico.

I found myself at the Ibogaine Institute in Rosarito not because I was addicted to heroin, but because I was anxious and depressed and couldn’t figure out why.

I’d been working as a journalist in New York for years, having climbed every ladder I thought I was supposed to climb, but found myself leaning against the wrong wall. I was drinking way too much and waking up each day wishing I hadn’t. I felt like I had lost touch with my soul, so I quit my job and went in search of it. But what followed was even worse — a year of not working with no idea what I was going to do with my life.

I’d taken Xanax to calm me in the past, but it was only masking the problem. I wanted to dig out.

I decided to seek out alternative cures, so I went to a conference on psychedelic science in Oakland last April, where doctors and researchers shared the most cutting-edge science on the subject of psychedelics and mental health. I was fascinated, but I wasn’t feeling any better. So when a man came up to me in the hotel lounge and asked what was wrong, I surprised myself by being honest. “I am filled with anxiety and I don’t know why,” I said.

“You know,” he responded, “ibogaine can treat that.”

I had heard about ibogaine and its positive effects on people suffering from heroin addiction, but the man explained it can be used to treat other issues, too. He explained that one “flood dose” of ibogaine can reset the neural pathways in the brain, breaking the destructive thought patterns that keep a person locked into bad habits. The man, Scott Ankeny, explained that he ran an ibogaine clinic near Tijuana and I should come do a treatment and write about it.

I couldn’t imagine anything more anxiety-fueling than the thought of flying to a rehab in Tijuana to take a psychedelic plant. But Ankeny kept in touch with me, and a month later, when I was in a particularly bad state, I figured I had nothing to lose.

So in May of last year, I checked myself into the Clinic. Consisting of a few connected houses on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it didn’t feel like a clinic. The other patients were from all over the country and they seemed really happy, considering where we were. I, meanwhile, was nervous and wondering if I’d made a huge mistake.

A month’s stay at the institute includes not only ibogaine, which adherents claim detoxes the body and mind, but also a rigid schedule of classes meant to teach new coping skills to handle stress without turning to drugs. Yoga was offered daily, along with qigong, an ancient Chinese system of breathing and movement. An acupuncturist visited a few times a week. Everyone was expected to attend therapy and AA sessions. The clinic made full use of other alternative medicines, too. A week after the ibogaine session, patients would be given 5-MeO-DMT, a psychedelic made from the venom of a desert toad that, when smoked, brings on an emotional and often deeply spiritual experience. And a week after that, they would also take part in three ceremonies administering ayahuasca, a hallucinogen used for therapeutic and spiritual insights. The whole program was designed by Ankeny (who has since left to work with another clinic) not only to detox but to heal the body, mind and spirit.

In between classes, patients talked about movies, life, their families, their sadnesses. Laughter rang through the houses all day. But some were also angry. Getting clean, seeing what damage they’d caused to themselves and others was painful.

When I first arrived, I was given an EKG to make sure my heart could handle ibogaine because one of its side effects is that it can slow the heart to a point where heart failure, especially among those with an abnormal heartbeat, is a possibility. I wasn’t at risk, but nonetheless every patient is hooked up to a heart monitor throughout the treatment.

Five days into my stay, I was led to a room with a bed where a nurse hooked me up to an IV so I’d receive fluids and nutrients before treatment while she explained the procedure.

I was told I’d take three pills and a little bit later I’d begin to see swirling patterns on the ceiling, which meant the medicine was in my system. The actual trip would begin when I heard a buzzing noise, she said. An ambulance was parked outside the clinic and a paramedic would be on hand throughout my treatment, just in case.

I lay down, put on my blindfold, and said a prayer. While I waited, I heard a motorcycle pull up behind the house. Then another. I called the nurse over. “Why is there a motorcycle gang outside?” I asked. She smiled. “There’s no gang,” she said. “That’s the medicine kicking in. That noise is inside your own head.”

It was so loud, I couldn’t believe it. Moments later I saw two giant wooden doors descend from the ceiling. Slowly they opened. I left the bed and floated through them. The trip had begun. Then I was in the gauntlet of people, a looping maze that went down at first, and then up, endlessly. I must have talked to 1,000 people that night.

After what I’m guessing was about six hours, the medicine finally wore off. I had hardly moved, although I asked the nurses later and they told me that I was talking out loud at some points and laughing even. I sat up, took off my blindfold and felt .?.?. clear. My head, normally filled with so many racing thoughts, was completely quiet.

"Researchers are not entirely sure how ibogaine works. One theory is that it may suppress an enzyme that causes the flu-like symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal," said Dana Beal, a science writer and ibogaine expert. "It may also regenerate cells damaged by drug use."

In addition, ibogaine-induced hallucinations reportedly help users see their lives in a new way, allowing them to understand what caused them to use in the first place.

But there are risks involved. There are no hard numbers, but University of California, San Diego, researcher Thomas Kingsley Brown, who studies ibogaine, estimates that about 30 people have died from taking the medication for opioid addiction since the 1960s, when it was found to treat heroin addiction.

“The majority of ibogaine-related deaths are cardiac-related, generally involving preexisting cardiovascular disease or problems with electrolyte levels often caused by poor nutrition, which drug users often have,” said Kenneth Alper, a psychopharmacologist at NYU who studies ibogaine. “Meaning, many of these risk factors are to a great extent preventable,” he said. “Appropriate screening, preparation, monitoring during treatment and personnel trained to deal with cardiac issues are needed when administering the plant medicine, but even in that perfect world you may still have fatalities.”

At the same time, addicts have to weigh the risks of ibogaine treatment against the dangers of heroin and other opioids. According to data released this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdoses in the US have increased by 13.3 percent from August 2016 to August 2017, and now total 67,344 deaths per year. Drug overdoses now kill more people than gun homicides and car crashes combined. The vast majority of those overdoses are caused by opiates, said Alper.

Kingsley Brown estimates that, conservatively, about 12,000 to 15,000 people have undergone ibogaine treatment in the West since 1962. There are roughly 80 clinics worldwide, he said. Others believe the number of patients is much higher. But everyone agrees the use of ibogaine as a treatment is growing exponentially as the opioid epidemic explodes. Meanwhile, 15 percent of the Ibogaine Institute’s clientele are people suffering from depression and anxiety, said Thom Leonard, who now runs the clinic.

“Ibogaine does bring with it a serious risk and should never be taken lightly,” Leonard said. “But with the proper screening and testing carried out, that risk drops to an acceptable level. And if you look at the fact that the average life expectancy of an IV drug user is somewhere around 6 years and overdose has taken over as the No. 1 cause of accidental death in the United States, it starts to become clear that the minimal risk involved in undergoing an ibogaine treatment done in a safe setting by a reputable provider is the least dangerous choice an addict can make.”

A study by Alper and Kingsley Brown published last year in Mexico found that among the 30 addict participants, 50 percent reported no opiate use one month after ibogaine treatment and 33 percent reported no use after three months. According to the results of that study, ibogaine’s rate of success is higher than traditional anti-addiction medications, like methadone and suboxone, which only 15 to 25 percent of addicts said led to no opioid use four to six weeks after stopping treatment, according to Alper.

People do relapse after ibogaine treatment. Many return to their lives only to be tempted to use again by the same triggers that got to them before. But it’s different, said one former patient who asked not to be named. “Ibogaine isn’t a cure,” she said. “I can say that for me, I could never put more than a few days sober together for 28 years. After ibogaine, I’ve used heroin one time this year. I also didn’t enjoy it, and I immediately asked for help and am sober again now.”

Kevin Franciotti’s oxycodone habit turned into heroin addiction in 2010 while he was a student at Northeastern. He claims the ibogaine he took at a clinic in Mexico in 2011 stopped his addiction, at least for a time.

When the inevitable craving for a fix came, he wanted to call his dealer. “Previously it would be off to the races, no fighting it,” he said. But this time he thought, “I’m going to wait five minutes to make this phone call.”

Five years later, he did have a relapse. But after about six months, he pulled out of it. He credits ibogaine with a fundamental life change that allowed him to be open-minded enough to go through 12-step recovery. Now 31, he is at The New School, getting a master’s in clinical psychology.

Almost one year after ibogaine treatment, I can also attest to the plant’s positive effects. I’m calmer now and more naturally drawn to nicer, more loving people. I guess maybe I’m nicer and more loving myself. I still have moments where my brain kicks into high gear, filled with thoughts it has no business thinking. But I can control them better now.

But my experience is nothing compared with my fellow patients at the clinic. While there, I saw addicts walk in ashen and grey, their cheeks hollow, their eyes dull. After treatment, they smiled. They gained weight. Their eyes sparkled. And many have since turned their lives around.

Jeremy Shank, 43, of Seattle, is one of them. After battling a heroin addiction for 12 years while living on the streets and “welcoming death,” he has been clean since visiting the Ibogaine Institute in April last year and is now a college student.

“I’d like to say that these plant medicines gave me back my life,” Shank told me. “But really I can’t say that, because this is so much better than the life I had before.”

https://nypost.com/2018/04/21/is-a-m...-to-addiction/​