Human beings have known drug addiction since the first taste of the first hallucinogenic plant. It has been a habit that our species has yet to kick. But individuals looking to regain control and escape the enslaving substances that were once but no longer the escape may have new hope. There are many treatment programs available for those looking for help, but not many people within the United States are familiar with ibogaine treatment for opiate addiction. An ibogaine treatment program would have to be sought out on the other side of American borders, as ibogaine is considered a Schedule 1 drug within the U.S., meaning there is no legal medical usage and it is considered dangerous as far as its potential to be abused. It is also said that there is a significant lack of proper, well-documented research on the substance and its affect on humans, particularly for medicinal purposes.
What to know about drug addiction and the possible solution
Ibogaine treatment for opiate addiction may sound extreme to one unfamiliar with it, but stepping back to look at the bigger picture, it starts to make more sense. Upon interviewing drug addicts, it was found that many illegal drugs are not difficult to obtain. In fact, many admitted that not only are they highly available, but also incredibly cheap. It could be less expensive to buy one dose of cocaine, the effects of which could last anywhere from 15 minutes to around one hour, than to buy even a six-pack of beer. And that potent central nervous system stimulant is quite powerful, so that one cheap dose can quickly lead to the pressing need for more money in order to buy more doses. Heroin, which was first created back in 1874 and has been used as a cough suppressant, is used widespread recreationally, and around 23% of those who try it will end up addicted to it. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states that around 11 million individuals in the U.S. have taken at least one dose of Oxycontin recreationally. Taking into account all of these statistics, doesn’t it make sense to consider a radical solution? With those hallucinogenic properties, it may offer that last bit of enticement a struggling addict may need to begin to turn it all around. Fighting fire with fire can work in some cases.
Why consider ibogaine treatment for opiate addiction?
Ibogaine detox has become popular for those seeking destination rehabilitation options. Ibogaine, a substance that occurs naturally in certain flowering plants in parts of Africa and the Amazon rainforest, is unregulated in parts of the world, including Mexico, where it is used in several detox resorts as a hallucinogenic aide in reseting addictive tendencies. The dissociative properties of the hallucinogen work to create feelings of separation from oneself and one’s environment, and in so doing, give the user a chance to detach from the addiction that drove him or her to seek rehabilitation in the first place. Ibogaine treatment for opiate addiction has been said to have shown results in as little as 72 to 96 hours, already reducing drug cravings just in that short window of time. While this treatment may not be ideal or affordable for every addict, it could be the beginning of rehabilitating at least a portion of those individuals who are looking to better themselves and break free of their addictions.
Yes, ibogaine treatment and detox is a bit outside the box. But sometimes that is exactly what you need when you are up against a nagging addiction or a powerful drug that just will not let you go. And the necessity to travel in order to participate in a rehabilitation program could be just the change of scenery needed to succeed in breaking the habits that hold you back.