Exploring Ibogaine’s Potential in the Treatment of Addiction
Exploring Ibogaine’s Potential in the Treatment of Addiction
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
www.maps.org
Presented by: Valerie Mojeiko
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 2
Tabernanthe IbogaTabernanthe Iboga
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 3
…Originally used by the Bwiti…
…Originally used by the Bwiti…
Shaman --><--His Wife
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 4
…in Rite of Passage Rituals…
…in Rite of Passage Rituals…
Bwiti people participating a ritual
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 5
…until Howard Lotsof……until Howard Lotsof…
…and found a place for ibogaine in Western culture.
…Serendipitously discovered ibogaine’s ability to reduce or eliminate withdrawal symptoms from opiates…
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 6
Psychedelics and Addiction(where this fits in)
Psychedelics and Addiction(where this fits in)
…Stan Grof, Bill Richards, Walter Pahnke, and others published research using LSD to treat alcoholics and heroin addicts…
…With promising results.
In the 1970s…
Learned: Multiple sessions may be more effective than single-dose administration
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 7
Ibogaine’s EffectsIbogaine’s Effects
Psychedelic
Produces a DREAMLIKE state
VERY Long-lasting
Unpleasant for many(not recreational)
The “trip” may be related to the addiction
Greatly reduces physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms from heroin, methadone, other drugs
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 8
Iboga Therapy HouseIboga Therapy House
Ibogaine Detoxification Facility in Vancouver, Canada
•MAPS awarded $5000 grant to set up North America’s first legal ibogaine detoxification facility
•Future Site of MAPS-Sponsored Research
•Will provide treatment to addicts from Canada and the US for a modest fee
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 9
Iboga Therapy HouseIboga Therapy House
Therapeutic Procedures
1. Prescreening Process: Application, Physical Exam, Drug Test
2. Enter Facility3. Supervision Period: 12-24
hours4. Ibogaine Experience: 1-2 days5. Integration Period and
Therapy: 2-3 days6. Leave Facility7. Follow-up: One year
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 10
Program Evaluation and Outcome Study
Program Evaluation and Outcome Study
• How well does ibogaine work? How safe is it?
• What percentage of people benefit and to what degree?
• How can these treatments be improved?• Should formal studies be conducted?
MAPS’ Role: Evaluating program, providing feedback, and collecting data for research
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 11
Preliminary Data: June 2004: Iboga Therapy House: 2wks-1yr after tx (avg. 6 months)
Preliminary Data: June 2004: Iboga Therapy House: 2wks-1yr after tx (avg. 6 months)
• 20 subjects• 6 of 7 treated for
Cocaine/Crack abstinent (86%)
• 3 of 8 treated for opiates abstinent (38%)
• 4/5 treated for other substances abstinent (80%)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
COC Opiate Alcohol Pot Meth Comb.
AbstinentUsing
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 12
Exploratory Outcome StudyExploratory Outcome Study
• Seeking to obtain basic preliminary data • Not a controlled study, but is
representative since including 20 Subjects treated consecutively
• One-year series of questionnaires and interviews from 20 subjects verified by interview with significant others
• Harm reduction model: measuring abstinence as well as non-abstinence outcomes, striving to differentiate between abuse and controlled use
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 13
MeasuresMeasures
• Addiction Severity Index (primary variable)
• Peak Experience Profile• Beck Depression and
Anxiety Inventories• Subjective and
Objective Opiate Withdrawal Scales (SOWS/OOWS)
• Pain and Craving Scales
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 14
ASI-Addiction Severity IndexASI-Addiction Severity Index
• Semi-structured 1 hour interview
• Scores on 7 subscales: medical status, employment and support, drug use, alcohol use, legal status, family/social status, and psychiatric status
• Been used extensively on a wide variety of outcome studies
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 15
Peak Experience Profile (PEP)Peak Experience Profile (PEP)
• Measures the psychedelic experience
• 180 items; one composite score; 16 subscores
• Scores for peaks (highs) and nadirs (lows)
Experience of the insight that "all is One".
Experience of explosive ecstasy.
Experience of unbearable tortures that will never end.
Sense that the experience cannot be described adequately
in words.
With open eyes seeing objects around you turned into great works of art.
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 16
i P W2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11
12
ASI X X X X X X X X X X X X X
BDI/BAI X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
PEP X
O/SOWS X X X
Pain/Cra X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
SO check
X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Schedule for Outcome Measures
i=Intake; P=Post-treatment; W2=Week 2; 1-12=Months 1-12
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 17
ChallengesChallenges
• No drug testing
• Difficulty of remaining in contact during follow-up
• Check-in with significant other and gift certificates address these concerns
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 18
ProgressProgress
• End of protocol design and training phase
• Has been submitted for IRB approval
• Partial funding obtained from private donors for study, Iboga Therapy House seeking additional funding for operating costs
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 19
GoalsGoals
• Obtain basic information about outcomes in underground clinics
• Provide feedback to improve services; help win funding from Canadian government; increase safety
• Ideally lead to placebo-controlled double-blind studies
• Ibogaine available to drug addicts in a safe, supportive, and humane setting
Ibogaine Outcome Study, V. Mojeiko 20
EndEnd