Introduction

Over the last two decades, there has been an increase in discussion worldwide about Ibogaine, which is a plant-based medicine native to western Africa.  According to drugscience.org.uk, Ibogaine is ”an alkaloid found in the root bark of the Apocynaceae family of plants, most notably the Tabernanthe iboga shrub”, it also produces a psychoactive effect.

Where  Does Ibogaine Come From?

Ibogaine has been used for many centuries in Africa, particularly the Gabon region, among the Bwiti and Pygmy tribes as an integral part of healing and rite of passage ceremonies and vision quests.  “The word iboga can be translated to ‘to care for’ or ‘to heal’ in various tribal dialects of the Congo Basin. “(ibid)

The Opioid Crisis in the US

Regarding the use of Ibogaine in addiction treatment, this is a vital issue, particularly with the rise of synthetic opioid products such as Fentanyl and Suboxone.  According to the National Centre for Drug Abuse Statistics, more than 10 million people in the US have an opioid use problem.

The Solution

Increasingly, patients go to Ibogaine clinics, primarily in Mexico and Central America, to address addiction issues with opioids, alcohol, and stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine.  For example, at New Path Specialized Clinic, the top Ibogaine provider in Baja Mexico,

• 54% of patients in 2023 were admitted to address opioid problems
• 10% came with stimulant abuse, and
• 19% with alcohol dependency (Atai Life Sciences).

Ibogaine is being proven a significantly successful component of addiction recovery. Traditional 28-day addiction treatment has been the go-to strategy for decades, but long-term success rates hover around 10%. Although research and reporting on post-Ibogaine success varies from clinic to clinic,  it is estimated that an average of 70% of Ibogaine clients have sustained abstinence from substances for at least six months after discharge. With ongoing services for continuing care (i.e., psychotherapy, drug counseling, recovery treatment), that statistic can be much higher.