Among 12 inpatients with alcohol use disorder who received intravenous ketamine therapy, the treatment was well tolerated and highly acceptable, with a mean acceptability rating of 9.5 on a 0–10 scale. The mean dissociative symptoms score was 21.7 out of 92. Participants reported experiences that were largely positive, transporting, visual, and meaningful. The most common themes were meaningful, spiritual, or mystical experiences; positive affect; and inherent contradictions of the acute experience. The hospital setting did not appear to hinder these experiences.
Ibogaine, a psychedelic substance, is attracting interest as a potential treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), with many states funding research. Some proponents frame ibogaine as an alternative to standard, mortality-reducing medications for OUD (MOUD), rather than as a complement. The path to remission varies, but switching from methadone or buprenorphine to an unproven therapy like ibogaine could increase the risk of opioid overdose for some individuals. The addiction medicine community should be aware of this risk and continue to defend evidence-based care while ibogaine is developed.