The UWM Post

Posted on 08 March 2010

By Emily Wottreng

Once upon a time, there was a horrible drug that made many people very sick. It trapped those who took it in a downward spiral of addiction.

But one day a new kind of drug came along, one that could almost always counteract the bad stuff. This may sound like a made up story, but it’s no fairytale.

There is currently a drug out there that is extremely potent, curing addictions for drugs such as (but not limited to) heroin, cocaine, nicotine and alcohol. Great Britain, France, and Mexico are just some of the many countries that recognize its effectiveness and permit its use. The drug itself is not addictive. Though it may sound too good to be true, true it is. The problem, however, is that America has yet to get on board and make it legal.

Ibogaine comes from the Iboga shrub in Africa, where it has long been used in tribal and ceremonial rituals. It is considered a hallucinogenic in high doses, which is why the U.S. is wary about its usage and currently forbids it. But there are many benefits from Ibogaine regarding addiction. Ibogaine doesn’t cure an addiction, but instead interrupts the craving. When people take Ibogaine, it puts them into a trance-like dreamy state for about 24 hours. Other than inducing dreams, it hardly stimulates a person compared to other drugs or alcohol. Once the effects of Ibogaine wear off, cravings for whatever drug they were addicted to are highly reduced. Because these cravings are significantly lowered, treatment for the addiction finally becomes doable.

After just two sessions (with recommended rehab in between), cravings can be significantly diminished. Imagine that — a virtual cure for addictions that plague millions. While therapy and counseling are still essential for recovery, Ibogaine carries the addict through the hardest step.

But despite all of these benefits, Ibogaine is currently illegal in the United States. France, Great Britain, Mexico, and Canada all allow it to be practiced legally, as does Australia and a few other countries in Europe (though they have some restrictions). Ibogaine is a safe drug, especially when used by licensed medical professionals. Over the past 20 years of its usage, only two deaths have occurred. One was due to heroin usage during treatment, and the other was because of an undiagnosed heart condition. Since these two unfortunate events, Ibogaine treatments have been monitored more carefully.

So not only is Ibogaine safe, non-addictive, and utilized in a bunch of other countries, it’s effective! Overcoming substance abuse and addiction is incredibly difficult, and the success rate is pretty low — not to mention the high incidence of relapse. It’s time to look for new solutions.

Imagine a future where drug addiction doesn’t exist. Sounds like a lofty idea, but Ibogaine could be a major step towards turning this dream into reality.