Nelson Vergel
Founder, ExcelMale.com
Ibogaine: Promise and Practicalities for Transforming Addiction Treatment
Ibogaine is rapidly garnering attention as a potentially revolutionary treatment for addiction and related mental health disorders—a beacon of hope in landscapes often characterized by despair and systemic inadequacy. In a recent Fluence webinar, leading experts Dr. Bruno Rasmussen (Brazilian physician and ibogaine clinician) and Brian Hubbard (CEO, Americans for Ibogaine) shared experiences from the clinical, policy, and personal frontlines of ibogaine advocacy and treatment. Their candid dialogue, moderated by Lauren Okano, illuminated the intersection of science, systems, and humanity in the evolving world of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Reimagining the War on Addiction
Dr. Gabor Maté’s observation, quoted at the outset—“The war on drugs is cultural schizophrenia... stressing people chronically and mercilessly can in no way promote their capacity for healthy transformation”—frames the journey ahead. Both guests outlined how ibogaine offers a radically different approach, grounded in science and compassion rather than punishment and stigma.
What is Ibogaine? Lessons from Brazil and Beyond
Dr. Rasmussen has administered over 2,500 ibogaine treatments since the 1990s, operating in a context where the substance is legal and regulated as a medicine. Ibogaine, an alkaloid extracted from the African Tabernanthe iboga plant, has long played a sacred role in Bwiti initiation ceremonies, facilitating profound self-insight and personal transformation.
Clinically, Rasmussen described ibogaine as both a biochemical intervention—swiftly reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms—and a catalyst for psychological reflection. Patients often experience vivid introspection, revisiting formative memories and confronting life choices. Notably, Rasmussen reports a success rate exceeding 70% for ibogaine in treating stimulant addiction, a marked departure from the high recidivism rates of conventional programs.
Bridging Policy and Practice: The U.S. Struggle
By contrast, the U.S. remains at the starting line in terms of ibogaine therapy, constrained by regulatory barriers (Schedule I status) and the inertia of existing systems. Brian Hubbard, leveraging experience from public health policy and social services, characterized the current American addiction treatment model as both exorbitant and inefficient—with 75% failure rates and ballooning costs.
Hubbard’s vision is transformative. He champions a framework where ibogaine treatment is not a silver bullet but the gateway to comprehensive, longitudinal support—psychological, social, and medical. He highlighted the extraordinary actuarial and human savings possible if ibogaine’s clinical efficacy is validated and accessible, envisioning a “Manhattan Project” scale-up for ibogaine, especially for populations at highest risk, such as veterans.
Ensuring Safety and Respect for Potency
Both presenters emphasized that ibogaine is no ordinary psychedelic; it carries real risks, particularly of cardiac arrhythmia. Rasmussen insisted on the necessity of hospital-based administration, thorough pre-treatment screening, and multi-day supervision, adding: “We have never seen a death from ibogaine in Brazil because we are very strict about patient selection and safety protocols.” He warned against any “drive-through” mentality or recreational use outside medical oversight.
Toward Systemic Integration: Values, Economics, and Equity
A recurring theme was the juxtaposition of ibogaine’s restorative potential against the commercial and bureaucratic forces shaping healthcare. Hubbard and Rasmussen both condemned the prevailing incentives toward “chronicity”—the management, rather than resolution, of suffering. In their view, widespread adoption of ibogaine would challenge entrenched business models that rely on the endless cycling of patients through ineffective treatments.
Yet, overcoming stigma—both at the regulatory and social levels—remains a formidable hurdle. Addiction is still widely misunderstood and stigmatized, fueling hesitancy from both government and industry. The path to full integration and insurance reimbursement hinges on robust clinical trials and regulatory approval, but also public and professional education to shift mindsets.
Sustainability and Cultural Responsibility
As Western interest in ibogaine swells, questions of ethical sourcing and respect for indigenous knowledge grow urgent. Both speakers advocate for synthetic, GMP-grade ibogaine or biosynthetically produced derivatives to supply clinical demand, preventing over-harvesting of the wild iboga plant and ensuring sustainability. Simultaneously, they call for reciprocal relationships and the honoring of the plant’s cultural origins, not simply extraction and commercialization.
Beyond the Medicine: Preparation, Integration, and Community
Central to ibogaine’s success is the pairing of the medicine with preparatory and integrative psychotherapy. Rasmussen underscored that patients refusing psychotherapy are not offered ibogaine in his clinic. Both panelists called for training U.S. therapists and providers in ibogaine’s unique properties, ensuring that the deep insights catalyzed by the medicine can become lasting transformation.
How to Get Involved and What Lies Ahead
While direct clinical access for ibogaine remains limited in the U.S., Hubbard encouraged interested individuals to join advocacy efforts, connect with organizations like Americans for Ibogaine, or support veterans and recovery initiatives that are pushing for change. Dr. Rasmussen emphasized the importance of building capacity, sharing knowledge, and preparing for the day when regulatory and societal barriers give way.
Conclusion: An Emancipation Mission
Ibogaine’s potential runs far deeper than addiction interruption; in the words of Brian Hubbard, the movement for ibogaine access is an “emancipation mission,” a campaign not just for medical innovation, but for the re-humanization of those whom the system has failed. As new data and advocacy converge, ibogaine may herald a new era in treating—and ultimately healing—the diseases of despair that have plagued society for decades.
Author’s note: This article synthesizes a Fluence webinar transcript featuring Dr. Bruno Rasmussen and Brian Hubbard. For the full conversation, see Fluence's archives.
Ibogaine is rapidly garnering attention as a potentially revolutionary treatment for addiction and related mental health disorders—a beacon of hope in landscapes often characterized by despair and systemic inadequacy. In a recent Fluence webinar, leading experts Dr. Bruno Rasmussen (Brazilian physician and ibogaine clinician) and Brian Hubbard (CEO, Americans for Ibogaine) shared experiences from the clinical, policy, and personal frontlines of ibogaine advocacy and treatment. Their candid dialogue, moderated by Lauren Okano, illuminated the intersection of science, systems, and humanity in the evolving world of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Reimagining the War on Addiction
Dr. Gabor Maté’s observation, quoted at the outset—“The war on drugs is cultural schizophrenia... stressing people chronically and mercilessly can in no way promote their capacity for healthy transformation”—frames the journey ahead. Both guests outlined how ibogaine offers a radically different approach, grounded in science and compassion rather than punishment and stigma.
What is Ibogaine? Lessons from Brazil and Beyond
Dr. Rasmussen has administered over 2,500 ibogaine treatments since the 1990s, operating in a context where the substance is legal and regulated as a medicine. Ibogaine, an alkaloid extracted from the African Tabernanthe iboga plant, has long played a sacred role in Bwiti initiation ceremonies, facilitating profound self-insight and personal transformation.
Clinically, Rasmussen described ibogaine as both a biochemical intervention—swiftly reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms—and a catalyst for psychological reflection. Patients often experience vivid introspection, revisiting formative memories and confronting life choices. Notably, Rasmussen reports a success rate exceeding 70% for ibogaine in treating stimulant addiction, a marked departure from the high recidivism rates of conventional programs.
Bridging Policy and Practice: The U.S. Struggle
By contrast, the U.S. remains at the starting line in terms of ibogaine therapy, constrained by regulatory barriers (Schedule I status) and the inertia of existing systems. Brian Hubbard, leveraging experience from public health policy and social services, characterized the current American addiction treatment model as both exorbitant and inefficient—with 75% failure rates and ballooning costs.
Hubbard’s vision is transformative. He champions a framework where ibogaine treatment is not a silver bullet but the gateway to comprehensive, longitudinal support—psychological, social, and medical. He highlighted the extraordinary actuarial and human savings possible if ibogaine’s clinical efficacy is validated and accessible, envisioning a “Manhattan Project” scale-up for ibogaine, especially for populations at highest risk, such as veterans.
Ensuring Safety and Respect for Potency
Both presenters emphasized that ibogaine is no ordinary psychedelic; it carries real risks, particularly of cardiac arrhythmia. Rasmussen insisted on the necessity of hospital-based administration, thorough pre-treatment screening, and multi-day supervision, adding: “We have never seen a death from ibogaine in Brazil because we are very strict about patient selection and safety protocols.” He warned against any “drive-through” mentality or recreational use outside medical oversight.
Toward Systemic Integration: Values, Economics, and Equity
A recurring theme was the juxtaposition of ibogaine’s restorative potential against the commercial and bureaucratic forces shaping healthcare. Hubbard and Rasmussen both condemned the prevailing incentives toward “chronicity”—the management, rather than resolution, of suffering. In their view, widespread adoption of ibogaine would challenge entrenched business models that rely on the endless cycling of patients through ineffective treatments.
Yet, overcoming stigma—both at the regulatory and social levels—remains a formidable hurdle. Addiction is still widely misunderstood and stigmatized, fueling hesitancy from both government and industry. The path to full integration and insurance reimbursement hinges on robust clinical trials and regulatory approval, but also public and professional education to shift mindsets.
Sustainability and Cultural Responsibility
As Western interest in ibogaine swells, questions of ethical sourcing and respect for indigenous knowledge grow urgent. Both speakers advocate for synthetic, GMP-grade ibogaine or biosynthetically produced derivatives to supply clinical demand, preventing over-harvesting of the wild iboga plant and ensuring sustainability. Simultaneously, they call for reciprocal relationships and the honoring of the plant’s cultural origins, not simply extraction and commercialization.
Beyond the Medicine: Preparation, Integration, and Community
Central to ibogaine’s success is the pairing of the medicine with preparatory and integrative psychotherapy. Rasmussen underscored that patients refusing psychotherapy are not offered ibogaine in his clinic. Both panelists called for training U.S. therapists and providers in ibogaine’s unique properties, ensuring that the deep insights catalyzed by the medicine can become lasting transformation.
How to Get Involved and What Lies Ahead
While direct clinical access for ibogaine remains limited in the U.S., Hubbard encouraged interested individuals to join advocacy efforts, connect with organizations like Americans for Ibogaine, or support veterans and recovery initiatives that are pushing for change. Dr. Rasmussen emphasized the importance of building capacity, sharing knowledge, and preparing for the day when regulatory and societal barriers give way.
Conclusion: An Emancipation Mission
Ibogaine’s potential runs far deeper than addiction interruption; in the words of Brian Hubbard, the movement for ibogaine access is an “emancipation mission,” a campaign not just for medical innovation, but for the re-humanization of those whom the system has failed. As new data and advocacy converge, ibogaine may herald a new era in treating—and ultimately healing—the diseases of despair that have plagued society for decades.
Author’s note: This article synthesizes a Fluence webinar transcript featuring Dr. Bruno Rasmussen and Brian Hubbard. For the full conversation, see Fluence's archives.
