Ibogaine, a powerful alkaloid derived from the root bark of the Tabernanthe iboga plant, has emerged as a beacon of hope for individuals struggling with addiction. Yet, despite its potential to revolutionize addiction treatment, it remains shrouded in the shadows of legal prohibition in countries like the United States of America, and few other countries around the world. So, Why Is Ibogaine Illegal?
This article delves into the complex history and ongoing debate surrounding Ibogaine’s legal status, exploring the reasons behind its classification as a Schedule I drug and the growing body of evidence that challenges this categorization.
We’ll journey through the labyrinth of concerns that have fueled Ibogaine’s legal restrictions, examining the historical context, scientific evidence, and ethical considerations that have shaped its legal fate. We’ll explore the ongoing struggle to bridge the gap between scientific understanding and legal frameworks, highlighting the voices of individuals who advocate for responsible and compassionate access to this potentially life-changing medicine.
By shedding light on the complexities of Ibogaine’s legal status, we aim to foster a more informed and nuanced conversation about its potential role in addiction recovery, paving the way for a future where this powerful plant medicine can be utilized safely and effectively to help individuals break free from the grip of addiction.
Table of Contents
What is Iboga?
Iboga is a plant native to Central Africa, primarily found in Gabon and Cameroon. The plant, scientifically known as Tabernanthe iboga, belongs to the Apocynaceae family. The iboga plant holds cultural significance, particularly in Bwiti ceremonies, where it is used to induce spiritual visions.
It is renowned for its psychoactive properties, particularly its root bark which contains the potent alkaloid ibogaine. Traditionally, the indigenous people have used iboga in religious ceremonies and healing rituals due to its profound psychoactive effects.
Iboga’s root bark is rich in ibogaine, a substance that has garnered significant interest for its potential in treating addiction and substance abuse disorders. Despite its therapeutic promise, its psychoactive nature and potential for adverse effects have led to its controversial status globally.
Opioid Addiction
Opioid addiction is a severe and growing problem globally, with millions of individuals affected by dependence on opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, and prescription painkillers.
The addictive nature of opioids, combined with the difficulty of overcoming dependence, has led to a search for effective treatments. Ibogaine has emerged as a potential solution due to its anti-addictive properties in treating drug dependence.
Ibogaine affects the brain’s nicotinic receptors and serotonin transporter systems, which play crucial roles in addiction and withdrawal processes. By interacting with these systems, ibogaine may help to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, making it a promising candidate for opioid addiction treatment.
Opioid Withdrawal
Opioid withdrawal is a challenging and often painful process that many individuals face when attempting to overcome opioid dependence.
Symptoms can include severe physical and psychological discomfort, making it difficult for individuals to abstain from opioids. Ibogaine therapy has shown promise in mitigating these withdrawal symptoms, providing a potential pathway to recovery for many.
The psychoactive effects of ibogaine help to reset the brain’s neural pathways, reducing the severity of withdrawal symptoms. This unique mechanism distinguishes ibogaine from other medications used in opioid detoxification and withdrawal management.
Ibogaine Treatment
Ibogaine treatment, often administered in an ibogaine clinic, involves the administration of ibogaine to individuals struggling with addiction, particularly opioid dependence.
Ibogaine clinics play a crucial role in providing specialized treatment programs for addiction. This treatment aims to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings, offering a unique approach compared to conventional addiction treatments. Ibogaine therapy has shown the potential to interrupt addiction patterns, especially in cases of heroin addiction and other opioid dependencies.
However, ibogaine treatment is not without risks. High doses of ibogaine can lead to severe adverse effects, including cardiopulmonary arrest and sudden death. These risks contribute to the stringent regulations and legal challenges surrounding ibogaine use and its classification as a controlled substance in many countries.
Ibogaine Therapy
Ibogaine therapy involves a comprehensive approach to treating addiction, utilizing the psychoactive and anti-addictive properties of ibogaine. The potential neurotoxic and pharmacokinetic effects of ibogaine ingestion have been studied, with findings indicating that high-dose ibogaine may cause degeneration of cerebellar Purkinje cells in rats, though no evidence of neurotoxicity has been found in primates.
This therapy typically includes a controlled ingestion of ibogaine, followed by professional supervision to monitor the individual’s physical and mental health. Ibogaine clinics have emerged globally, offering specialized treatment programs for those seeking to overcome addiction.
Despite its potential, ibogaine therapy remains controversial. Clinical trials and human clinical trials have highlighted both the benefits and risks of ibogaine administration. The potential for adverse effects, including acute heart failure and cardiopulmonary arrest, underscores the need for careful medical supervision during treatment.
Psychedelic Properties of Ibogaine
The psychoactive effects of ibogaine go beyond its role in addiction treatment, with users often reporting profound introspective experiences and heightened emotional awareness.
These psychedelic properties have led to interest in using ibogaine as a tool for addressing not only addiction but also mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
Research into the mechanisms of action of ibogaine on the brain’s serotonin and dopamine systems has provided insights into its potential therapeutic applications beyond addiction.
Why is Ibogaine prohibited?
Ibogaine’s journey to illegality began with its use by French athletes as a performance-enhancing drug. In the early 1960s, Howard Lotsof discovered ibogaine’s potential in treating opiate addiction. However, sweeping regulations in the mid-1960s by the FDA, aimed at controlling psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine.
By this time, drugs like LSD showed promise in treating addictions, but the FDA classified them as Schedule I drugs, outlawing them and hindering further scientific testing.
Today, ibogaine remains a Schedule I drug in the USA, deemed to have no medicinal value and high addiction potential. This classification persists despite growing evidence suggesting otherwise.
Why Ibogaine?
Ibogaine was made illegal to use on a personal level and for scientific testing. Ibogaine may have been relatively new, but drugs like LSD were already showing huge promise in treating addictions.
But the data didn’t matter. The FDA had made up its mind and these drugs were completely outlawed, leaving many scientists scratching their heads from the lack of logic that surrounded these sweeping generalizations.
To date, Ibogaine continues to remain a Schedule 1 drug in the USA. It is declared to have no medicinal value and to be extremely addictive. But the main question people worldwide ask today is: Well, if the FDA says so it must be true, right?
Why is ibogaine banned in many countries?
Ibogaine has been used as a treatment for addiction to opiates and heroin.
The drug can be found in the root of a shrub called Tabernanthe iboga, also called “elephant creeper” because it grows in areas where elephants roam. The iboga root has been used in traditional practices, and ibogaine is extracted from its bark.
Ibogaine is illegal in most countries, including the United States.
Many countries have banned ibogaine because it will affect your heart rate, so you may need to see a doctor before taking this drug.
Ibogaine Legal Regulation
Ibogaine’s legality varies globally. It is banned or heavily restricted in many countries due to its potential health risks, particularly concerning heart rate. High-profile cases of cardiac complications and fatalities during ibogaine treatment contribute to its stringent regulation.
New Zealand is the only country to have regulated the drug and made ibogaine legal, the medical advisory board Medsafe reported that “the number of deaths due to methadone, the most controlled substance, were a little higher than those associated with ibogaine treatment”
To that effect, Ibogaine is illegal in the US, France, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Poland, Croatia, and Switzerland and is strongly restricted in the UK under the 2016 Psychoactive Substances Act.
Iboga still prevails…
Since ibogaine is illegal in the United States, most American patients travel to foreign countries like Mexico and Brazil for ibogaine treatment. Ibogaine’s side effects include hallucinations, of course, but also seizures and in rare cases, potentially fatal cardiac complications.
Still, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting the FDA’s label isn’t accurate at all. Ibogaine is not counted on the UN International Narcotics Control Board’s (INCB) Green List, or List of Psychoactive Substances under International Control.
Stimulant properties of ibogaine
However, since 1989, it has been on the list of doping substances disqualified by the International Olympic Committee and the International Union of Cyclists because of its stimulant properties.
The iboga tree holds significant cultural and ecological importance, particularly in Bwiti ceremonies in Gabon, where it is used in traditional rituals.
Tabernanthe iboga is a protected species in Gabon, one of the countries in the world where the plant is mostly grown and valued for traditional purposes, where reports suggest that it may be threatened in its natural habitat.
Because of this, iboga may be subject to the terms of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to which 196 countries around the world (excluding only the United States and Vatican City) are parties.
It is recommended that those who are involved in the trade of ibogaine review further information about the sustainability situation
Countries where Ibogaine is completely illegal
THE UNITED STATES
Ibogaine has been a Schedule I drug in the US since 1970, and it looks like it won’t change anytime soon. As such it’s illegal to possess or distribute ibogaine – so you won’t find any legal treatment centers in the US.
Nevertheless, there’s hope on the horizon – in both New York and Vermont, bills are being considered to encourage the use of ibogaine in research and in the treatment of addiction.
Read more here: Marijuana Moment
Ibogaine is now legal in California
Oakland, California may become the first city in the United States to legalize the distribution and sale of psychedelic drugs,
This includes psilocybin mushrooms and ayahuasca, in a way similar to how the city was the first to normalize commercial medical marijuana sales.
Much has to happen before the broader drug policy reform becomes a reality, but the Oakland City Council has taken a decisive first step on
Tuesday when it voted 6 to 0 to approve a measure decriminalizing the possession of “entheogenic” plant- and fungi-based substances, also including mescaline and ibogaine.
BELGIUM
Ibogaine was banned as early as 1998 in Belgium by Royal Decree, where ibogaine and its customers are specifically mentioned. Possession and distribution are illegal.
FRANCE
Ibogaine is illegal to possess and distribute and has been in the U.S. since 2007. You’ll find it difficult to get treatment here.
HUNGARY
If Ibogaine is listed under a law that prevents the distribution of psychoactive substances without a license, it might be difficult to find any legal treatment centers here.
IRELAND
Ibogaine probably falls under Ireland’s Psychoactive Substances Act, which makes pretty much everything illegal.
However, it leaves doors open for potential future research of ibogaine, allowing an exemption for substances that are “medicinal products intended for research and development trials.
ITALY
Custody or distribution of ibogaine is illegal in Italy, as it was added to the Schedule list recently.
SWITZERLAND
It is illegal to possess or distribute ibogaine in Switzerland, as it is specifically listed as a prohibited substance.
SWEDEN
Ibogaine has been illegal to possess or distribute since 1985. The law was brought up for review in 2007, but ibogaine’s status remained the same.
UNITED KINGDOM
Ibogaine technically falls under the UK’s bizarre Psychoactive Substances Act, issued in May 2016,
which makes it illegal to produce or distribute “any substance with a psychoactive effect.”
Although there are no cases of people being prosecuted for providing ibogaine, the government could take you to court for doing so.
Thankfully, possession of ibogaine for personal use is still legal; although buying it would be breaking the law.
Countries where Ibogaine is somewhat prohibited
AUSTRALIA
Ibogaine has been a Schedule IV drug in Australia for several years now, meaning it can’t be distributed without a license – and it doesn’t appear that the government has been handing out any ibogaine licenses…
CANADA
Although ibogaine falls under the category of “Natural Healthcare Products” in Canada, and there are many treatment centers to be found there, its legal status is uncertain.
Recently, ibogaine has been seized from several providers, amid concerns over heart risks.
ISRAEL
In 2015, ibogaine was prohibited from distribution under an emergency declaration for 12 months. Since then, it’s unclear what ibogaine’s legal status has become, as information is murky.
Countries Where Ibogaine Is Legal
BRAZIL
In Brazil, ibogaine is legal to possess and distribute. A recent law in Sao Paolo has decreed that ibogaine be administered in a medical environment with adequate protection for the patient.
COSTA RICA
Ibogaine is legal in Costa Rica, and one of the most famous ibogaine treatment centers resides here.
However, there are some negative reviews out there, and it’s best to do your research before choosing an ibogaine treatment center.
GABON
This is the spiritual home of ibogaine. In Gabon, iboga plants are protected by law. However, approval must be given for any export of ibogaine.
GUATEMALA
Ibogaine appears to be legal in Guatemala, with one legitimate treatment center in Antigua.
MEXICO
Ibogaine is unregulated in Mexico and is a popular location for treatment centers.
NETHERLANDS
There is no specific prohibition on ibogaine in the Netherlands, and there are a variety of treatment centers available.
NEW ZEALAND
Since 2009, ibogaine has been legal by prescription in New Zealand. The development of synthetic ibogaine, specifically 18-methoxycoronaridine (18-MC), shows promise as a pharmacotherapy for addiction, with support from NIDA for preclinical testing and chemical manufacturing. As such, you can find treatment centers that will offer you ibogaine from a medical professional.
SOUTH AFRICA
Ibogaine is legal in South Africa but you have to be granted a license to distribute it due to its potential heart risks.
Ibogaine is a relatively new drug to the Western world… as such, many countries have no specific laws to deal with ibogaine.
If you don’t see a country on our list, it either has no specific prohibition of ibogaine, or we haven’t been able to find one. Always check with your local authority if you’re unsure.
Side Effects of Taking Ibogaine
Taking ibogaine, a potent alkaloid found in the root bark of the iboga plant, a sacred plant has been the focus of numerous psychedelic studies. While ibogaine shows promise in treating substance use disorders, its side effects can be severe and sometimes fatal.
One of the most alarming consequences of taking ibogaine is the risk of cardiac arrest. Drug companies have been conducting clinical trials to sort solutions for substance use disorders.
This is especially concerning when compared to other psychedelics like magic mushrooms, which are often considered safer. Unlike other drugs used in addiction medicine, ibogaine’s psychoactive properties can lead to unpredictable outcomes, making it a topic of much debate in the field of psychedelic studies.
Substance disorders often lead individuals to seek alternative treatments, and ibogaine is one such option. However, taking ibogaine can result in a range of side effects, from mild to severe. Uncontrolled experiments in early psychedelic studies have documented instances of hallucinations, extreme nausea, and in rare cases, death due to cardiac arrest.
Consequences of Ibogaine Use in Addiction Medicine
The consequences of taking ibogaine extend beyond immediate physical side effects. Long-term psychological impacts have been reported in several psychedelic studies, raising questions about the sustainability of using ibogaine in addiction medicine.
For individuals with substance disorders, the intense and often distressing visions induced by ibogaine can be both a therapeutic tool and a source of trauma. Unlike other psychedelics such as magic mushrooms, which are generally considered to have a lower risk profile, ibogaine can lead to severe psychological consequences that persist long after the drug has been metabolized.
