Subjective ibogaine experiences across intersecting social-ecological dimensions

People who received ibogaine treatment for addiction reported reduced cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and addiction severity. The drug's psychedelic, dream-like experiences prompted personal insight into their addictions and supported recovery. Participants often sought ibogaine after exhausting other treatments. Disclosing their ibogaine experiences to professional and non-professional supporters was important for recovery. Despite prior negative encounters with behavioral health systems, most participants later sought mental health professional support. These intersecting individual, interpersonal, and health-system experiences had an enduring impact on addiction recovery.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Background and aims Ibogaine, an alkaloid extracted from the root of the Tabernanthe Iboga shrub, holds promise in treating addictive disorders. Individuals receiving ibogaine treatment report decreased withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and addiction severity. These changes are often attributed to ibogaine's psychedelic properties: subjectively meaningful, dream-like experiences. Research demonstrates that ibogaine experiences impact multiple social-ecological dimensions and influence addiction and recovery trajectories. No studies have explored the multidimensional experiences of individuals seeking ibogaine treatment for addictions. The current study examines acute and enduring ibogaine experiences at individual, interpersonal, and behavioral health systems levels. Methods Fifteen individuals (5 female, 10 male) who received ibogaine treatment at a medical clinic in Ensenada, Mexico completed semi-structured interviews asking about individual, interpersonal, and behavioral health system experiences post-ibogaine within 12 months of ibogaine treatment ( Mdn = 169 days). Transcripts were coded and analyzed using a Consensual Qualitative Research approach. Results Many participants reported seeking ibogaine treatment after exhausting other addiction services. Outcomes reported following treatment included alleviated cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Participants indicated that ibogaine experiences prompted insight into their addictions and contributed to their recovery. Self-support and disclosing ibogaine experiences to professional and non-professional supporters were important to participants' recovery post-ibogaine. Conclusions Intersecting experiences across social-ecological levels had an enduring impact on participants' addiction recovery after ibogaine treatment. Despite negative experiences with behavioral health systems prior to receiving ibogaine treatment, most participants sought the support of mental health professionals post-ibogaine. Findings are informative for mental health professionals and clients interested in ibogaine treatment.