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Using Iboga for friend's alcoholism - please read

B1tO'RoughJack

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Dec 14, 2011
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THis is not about "my friend" SWIM, this is actually about my friend "C".

He has been drinking heavily from the age of 10/11, as his childhood was very violent, both towards him from both parents, and watching the violence between his parents.

He is a mama's boy, and his father is dead as of about 10 years ago or so.

He wakes up and drinks.

He has been to rehab a few times, he wakes up, pukes, drinks a can, then if he isn't working, will steadily drink all day until sleep. He plans he has sufficient drink - always thinking about the next can if he is not flush(temp wealthy).

If he has an argument with someone, usually his boy's mother, he will (unless guided by the right people) usually buy a bottle of vodka alongside his usual 8 or so daily cans of scrumpy jack, and binge binge binge for a day or 2.

His spending is impulsive as you can imagine due to his emotional state bouncing up and down constantly.

He used to smoke crack, and sniff white, but due to various influences this is now a thing of seldom occasion.

His main problem is his violent temper, and his masochistic drinking.

His masochism is so deep, due to his childhood traumas, that even though he has been speculatively given 2 months to live if he continues to drink, he continues to drink, but a BIT slower, he seems to be generally more rational and in higher spirits, but still not good at all...evidently.

Now I have offered my help several times - usually the answer is the same " I don't need ya help bruv, I can sort my own shit out", but one occasion about 2 months ago when I offered an iboga session circle, with possible ayahuasca to follow once a season if needed or whatever, he broke down, confessed how much pain he is in, where, and that he has given up.

However, when I pressed it a little, and told him I don't want to go round visit his baby mama and boy, stepping in the door and knowing he can never do that again, coz he's dead - well, he agreed to try it...

I see his problem as he won't take anyone's help, coz he has pretty much given up - but I see him accepting help in other aspects of life all the time, so I am determined to do this - I have spoken to a few trusted people, people he named he'd feel comfortable with as his sitters and minders, through the experience, and so I determined to do this, my part as brother, brother's keeper, and community druid/shaman/medicine man.

I have found a source, I am fundraising for the ingredients, and aftercare right now, and generally making the arrangements for after the christmas/new year period, and just going to make sure I see him fairly often over the period, to stop any binges happening so he doesn't kill himself before "therapy time". This time will follow the iboga session(s).

I came to terms with the fact he might actually die an evening in bed last week just before I went to sleep - I have visions, like flashes of potential future, that have become more and more frequent as I've matured, and become more cosmically aware - I grieved for him before sleep whilst rejoicing his return to real, unburdened life.

2 very clear visions I had that night - one us arms around each others shoulders like brothers, smiling and laughing, and being dogs together, both evidently happy and healthy and wealthy; and a second vision of me turning up at his funeral, huggin his baby mama, with a fresh tattoo tear on my face, black armband, wearing a suit, and fucking torn up inside.

They are both clear visions - I know it is now 50/50 which is going to occur because of the next month's occurrences - Time will tell, insha'allah.

To get into details on psychedelics - I have given him various psychedelics, including 2c-B,LSD, DMT 2C-E spaced out over the past 3 years, and we have all shared psilocybe semilanceata as a fraternal circle earlier this year) - all of this has opened him up a lot, made him more compassionate and trusting, but not enough of a kick to the head as I have experienced, as his conditioning has been so much more extreme.


I'm writing here for guidance - I am definitely going ahead with this - my intuition and my use of psychic divination tools have all told me this is the right way to go(alternative being hearing he has died in the next few months), so anyone who can assist me with anecdotes, techniques, dosages, prep methods, or specific links for research to do (I am, ofcourse, reading bit by bit each week as I go more and more useful info).

Please help me, I don't want to not do anything when the alternative is he will definitely be dying in the next year - he is not even 30 years old, and very close brother to me.
 
really iboga is too dangerous to use without medical supervision. I've done it on my own and it felt risky and wouldn't do it again. It may help him greatly but after it's worn off, the issues may return.

my doses were like 300mg i think, hard to remember. It sounds like he has mental issues but iboga is a magical plant (extract) and may help him to gain insight into his issues. I think Ayahuasca would be better personally for this. Just remember iboga is a risky endeavor and if he seizes, you don't want that on your conscience. Make sure to keep plenty of antipsychs and benzos just in case shit goes wrong.
 
Bear in mind that ibogaine causes very significant central and peripheral adrenergic stimulation, at doses below those which produce the psychedelic effects.

Thus to reach that level of effects, one must endure a heck of an adrenergic beating. If you are determined to go ahead, or more appropriately, if HE is determined, knowing this, measures will HAVE to be in place to prevent seizing. Continuing to drink whilst on the drug I can only imagine is a very, very bad idea. Ibogaine also lasts fora LONG time, whereas alcohol is short acting and will wear off long before the iboga is even coming close to the completion of the experience.

If iboga is to be used, I would say its more or less essential that he is not drinking, and is stabilized on benzodiazepines beforehand, and that further benzos are on hand in case of the risk of seizure.

And if it were me personally, I would also have clonidine available, and pre-dose with a bit, to lessen the adrenergic impact, which sounds pretty unpleasant, even without the sympathetic storm that will come from alcohol withdrawal.

I think it certainly NOT suitable, for him to be on it at any time whilst during acute withdrawal. Stabilize on benzos first.

And do NOT mix iboga with an MAOI!!!

There is a very real risk of a slow, miserable and agonizing death due to a hypertensive crisis.
 
Iboga does sound a bit risky given his poor health. IIRC the iboga clinics in Mexico & Canada require some period of abstinence before the iboga session. Might wanna read up on their methods & safety precautions in addition to the advice offered earlier in this thread
. Good luck & be careful!
 
^ nice one guys, I was not yet aware of such risks, but considering what the doctors have told him about dying within the next few months, personally I am almost prepared in my mind if something goes wrong, now I just need to gather together all the right information and lay it down on the table with him, and he can decide how he wants to die...obviously, as if there was any alternative to his autonomy! :)

It looks like I will lay ayahuasca on the table instead then, after I tell him about why Iboga does not seem to be a good plan at all - I had just heard so much good about Iboga when dealt with for addictions and post-withdrawal from my superficial research, but it appears I am not prepared resource-wise to deal with all the side effects of Iboga.

NKB - yes he has been through rehab a few times, and recently went on a detox, which just involved a week at a centre, no therapy, just cleansing foods, and benzos, with benzos for a few weeks afterwards - but he got on the drinking a day after he came back,l and ate the benzodiazepines like they were sweets.

Next time I go see him and get him on his own, I will tell him everything that has been mentioned here in this thread...I personally think the period of abstinence is going to be the hard part - in the past month or so he has gone without drink for a few days running at a time, just because he hasn't left teh house - this however is rare.

THanks for the pointers in where there are gaping holes in the plan - research and regroup!

I will be back.
 
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sure you don't want to just try with LSD again?

that tear tattoo in your vision.... that tattoo signifies that the wearer has committed a murder... perhaps manslaughter in your case...
 
erm wrong dude. WEll HALF WRONG - if the tear is filled in, it is to signify a dead homie. If it is black, then it is a sign you are a killer.

Re; teh LSD - that;s a good idea. BUT it's a little too recreational, unless I smacked him with a really large dose. A small dose would just piss him off, as he is a total oldskool wreckhead.
 
...at first I want to say that I truly appreciate your efforts! :)

I have no personal experience with iboga but it seems quite off the table anyway...(unless he's really detoxed)
but I do have experience with trying to counter deep shit with deep shit. as in countering massive mental fuckups with massive psychedelic experiences. at this time I'm not sure if this is the right path (for everyone). in german there's the saying "a big block needs a big wedge" but I increasingly feel that the truly elegant path is to just forget about the fuckin block...also "actio-reactio" in my mind...

maybe provide him the most cosy/comfortable/safe experience imaginable. no compulsion to work involved. and maybe in exactly that process the most work will be done. substancewise I'm talking about serotonergic substances with some depth; stuff like 6-apb and aMT in specific. this is my subjective advise derived from personal evidence but there's a lot of research going on about MDMA vs. PTSD and I can definitely see/feel the point in that approach...

I wish you all the best! countering trauma and abuse of GABA-like substances in a significant other is a truly heroic attempt. don't let it put too much strain on you, don't overestimate yourself, keep your ego at bay, be aware of co-dependent behavior. keep the faith!...
 
he's like a bro, not SO, dude. nice post...

MDMA - I think I will kick off with an MDMA fuelled chat and game plan, before working out what would be best. Cheers, I can'[t believe I forgot about MDMA for therapeutic, uninhibited conversation!
 
erm wrong dude. WEll HALF WRONG - if the tear is filled in, it is to signify a dead homie. If it is black, then it is a sign you are a killer.

Re; teh LSD - that;s a good idea. BUT it's a little too recreational, unless I smacked him with a really large dose. A small dose would just piss him off, as he is a total oldskool wreckhead.
I wasn't having a go at you mate. You asked for feedback and I delivered mine: if you dose him with iboga you are taking his life into your hands.
 
I know, and if you'd read my posts I have worked through that one, and as you can see I took your advice on the LSD on board!! Jeez talk about overreacting - do you by any chance have a whorl on your ring fingertip? Coz you're a bit of a drama queen! :)
 
yeah maybe avoid giving the ibogaine to a detoxing alchy near death who might die of DT's anyway.

maybe try mdma and some talking because if he is that close to death even if he quits it still might be game over.

maybe a bit of palliative counselling mandied up...
 
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