MAPS-Sponsored Study: Observational Case Series Study of the Long- Term Efficacy of Ibogaine-Assisted Therapy and Associated Interventions in Participants with Opiate Addiction

Principal Investigator John Harrison, Ph.D (candidate)
with Ilsa Jerome, PhD, and Valerie Mojeiko

To take place at: Pangea Biomedics (formerly Ibogaine Association), Playas De Tijuana, Mexico

This observational case study is examining changes in substance use in 30 consecutive individuals seeking ibogaine-based addiction treatment for opiate dependence at Pangea Biomedics. This study is intended to gather information to evaluate whether ibogaine-assisted therapy helps opiate-dependent people stop using opiates or practice moderated use after the therapy. Twelve-month follow-up data will be collected from participants in the study to examine whether ibogaine-assisted therapy facilitates improvements in quality of life that result in decreased harms associated with chronic or mismanaged opiate use. The study has received Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) and is currently enrolling subjects.

The study will cost $30,000; all of which is still needed.

Full protocol (pdf)

Donations to support research into ibogaine as a treatment for alcoholism and substance abuse and dependence are needed, MAPS will allocate 100% of any donation specifically restricted to this work upon request.

Ibogaine is a naturally-occurring alkaloid that comes from the root bark of a shrub native to West Africa. It is used in healing ceremonies and initiations conducted by members of the Bwiti religion in various parts of West Africa. In small doses, it can serve as a stimulant, and in larger doses, it produces a profound psychedelic state. People with problem substance use have found that psychedelic doses of ibogaine can significantly reduce withdrawal from opiates and eliminate substance-related cravings for a period of time.

Ibogaine is currently placed in Schedule 1 in the US, despite its subjective effects not being especially "fun" or desirable and despite its reported anti-addiction properties. Regardless of this scheduling, it is reported that individuals still attempt to treat themselves with ibogaine for substance addiction. Ibogaine is only scheduled in the US, Belgium and Switzerland.

Valerie Mojeiko's Ibogaine research was presented at the LSD Symposium in Switzerland January 2006. Her presentation, entitled "Exploring Ibogaine's Potential in the Treatment of Addiction," is available as a powerpoint presentation and as a video of the powerpoint presentation.

December 10, 2008. Ibogaine Study Enrolls First Three Subjects: The MAPS-sponsored study in Playas de Tijuana of the long-term outcomes of ibogaine treatment for opiate addiction has enrolled the first three subjects.

October 3, 2008. Principal investigator John Harrison, PsyD candidate at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), received a letter from the Human Research Review Committee of CIIS granting final approval for the MAPS-sponsored ibogaine outcome protocol. John can now start our investigation into the short and longer-term outcomes of ibogaine treatment for opiate addiction.

The study will follow 30 patients who undergo ibogaine therapy at the Pangea Biomedics Ibogaine Association in Playas De Tijuana, Mexico for one year after their treatment.
In order to gather quantitative data about outcome, John will administer the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) on a monthly basis to each subject during an approximately one-hour phone conversation. Interviews with significant others will also be conducted, as a way to try to verify the accuracy of subject self-reports. Valerie Mojeiko, MAPS Director of Operations and Clinical Research, met with John Harrison to conduct a study initiation visit on October 9.

October 30, 2007. Canada's largest urban weekly, The Georgia Straight, published a feature article about the MAPS-sponsored observational case study in British Columbia evaluating ibogaine treatment in subjects with opiate dependence. The article includes some interesting personal anecdotes and analysis from MAPS President Rick Doblin, PhD, as well as a discussion of MAPS' FDA Phase II research evaluating MDMA-, LSD-, and psyilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.

July 17, 2007. The Huffington Post's Mary Clare Ditton published an interesting article about a new ibogaine treatment center in Barcelona. The article discusses the MAPS-sponsored long-term observational case study in Vancouver as well as the parallel ibogaine study that MAPS is developing in Mexico.

May 23, 2007. The Iboga Therapy House is now enrolling clients in MAPS' IRB-approved long-term observational case study. Three subjects have been enrolled in the study so far and will be followed up on a monthly basis for a full year after their initial ibogaine treatment. The study will examine changes in substance use in 20 consecutive individuals undergoing ibogaine-based addiction treatment for opiate dependence at the Iboga Therapy House near Vancouver, Canada.

Meanwhile, MAPS is currently developing the protocol for a parallel MAPS-sponsored observational case study in Mexico under the direction of Principal Investigator John Harrison, PsyD (cand). The study would evaluate changes in substance use in 20 consecutive individuals undergoing ibogaine-based addiction treatment for opiate dependence at Mexico's Ibogaine Association. The Ibogaine Association has been under new management since 2006, and has significantly upgraded the quality of services for its clients.

March 12, 2007. MAPS Clinical Research Associate Valerie Mojeiko is in Vancouver, Canada this week to conduct a study initiation visit for the MAPS-sponsored observational case study evaluating the long-term efficacy of ibogaine-assisted therapy in participants seeking treatment for opiate addiction at the Iboga Therapy House. If you or someone you know isinterested in receiving ibogaine therapy, you can learn more about the Iboga Therapy House and apply to their program at www.ibogatherapyhouse.net

December 8, 2006. "This American Life" on National Public Radio features a story about a former heroin addict who has been treating people addicted to heroin with ibogaine.

August 17, 2006. The MAPS-sponsored research team has now received "unconditional approval" from a Canadian Institutional Review Board (IRB) to proceed with a long-term observational case study that will examine changes in substance use in 20 consecutive people seeking ibogaine-based addiction treatment for opiate dependence at Iboga Therapy House in Vancouver. The Iboga Therapy House will now begin active recruitment of subjects.

August 10, 2006. British Columbia's The Tyee published "Psychedelics Could Treat Addiction, Says Vancouver Official," reporting that Vancouver's top drug policy official and B.C. public health physicians believe addicts might be treated by giving them psychedelic drugs, and they hope the city will lead in exploring the controversial approach.

August 4, 2006. After years of work and a number of significant changes to the original protocol, a MAPS-sponsored research team has received "conditional approval" from a Canadian Institutional Review Board (IRB) to proceed with a long-term observational case study that will examine changes in substance use in 20 consecutive people seeking ibogaine-based addiction treatment for opiate dependence at Iboga Therapy House in Vancouver. While originally designed as an "outcome study," the protocol was later changed to an observational case-study when the IRB expressed concerns that the initial design was too close to a clinical trial, which has a much stricter approval process, and was never the intention of the research team anyhow. The Principal Investigator is none other than Rick Doblin, Ph.D., and he'll be aided by Dr. Ken Alper and Leah Martin, with data analysis to be conducted by MAPS Research Associate Ilsa Jerome, Ph.D.

March 1, 2006. San Diego CityBeat published a positive depiction of ibogaine as a treatment for addiction at the Ibogaine Association in Tijuana, Mexico.

June 20, 2005. Two posters by Deborah Mash, Ph.D. and team were presented about ibogaine at the annual conference of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD).

June 6, 2005. We received a copy of the autopsy report from the San Diego County medical examiner, who found that this patient died of natural causes, unrelated to ibogaine administration, although ibogaine was found in this patient's system at the time of autopsy. The patient suffered a sudden cardiac death due to acute myocardial infarct and acute coronary syndrome. Contributory causes to the death were fibromyalgia and chronic opiate pain medication dependency. The Ibogaine Associate closed briefly after the incident and reopened several weeks later after making several staff and procedural changes. At this time MAPS is not working with the Ibogaine Association.

May 29, 2005. Iboga Therapy House does not receive grant from Health Canada. MAPS awards a grant of up to $5000 to the Iboga Therapy House for assistance in setting up a non-profit ibogaine clinic that will charge a fee for treatments.

January 28, 2005. Iboga Therapy House (ITH), Vancouver, BC, Canada selected as new site for data collection. MAPS assists ITH in writing grant application to Health Canada for a pilot project to offer detoxification services to 20 people.

January 21, 2005. Data collection prematurely ended at the Ibogaine Association due to clinic closing after a subject in poor health died during a period of daily, low-dose treatment. We await the autopsy results and are currently looking for a new site to restart data collection.

January 10, 2005. Data collection begins at the Ibogaine Association

January 6, 2005. Valerie Mojeiko will soon be supervising and analyzing information from people treated at the Ibogaine Association in Mexico.

1. The Ibogaine Dossier
2. The Ibogaine Association, Mexico
3. Drug and Alcohol Detox, St. Kitts
4. Iboga Therapy House, Vancouver, BC.
5. Erowid Ibogaine Entry
6. Ibogaine Documentary Excerpt, full DVD available for purchase at MAPS store
7. A personal account of a woman who overcame her cigarette addition during an LSD experience.