As of March 1, 2011, MAPS’ observational study of the long-term efficacy of ibogaine-assisted therapy for drug addiction has enrolled 16 out of 30 subjects. All participants in this study have already received ibogaine-assisted therapy at one of two independent treatment centers in Mexico, and the study is an attempt to evaluate the quality and duration of their treatment outcomes. The rationale for this study is based on the increasing numbers of people turning to ibogaine and ibogaine-assisted therapy for addiction treatment despite its high level of risk and little scientific knowledge about its long-term effectiveness. Over the course of the study, MAPS researchers use the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) to evaluate patterns of drug use including addictive behavior and overall quality of life. We are also using the States of Consciousness Questionnaire (SOCQ) to determine whether there is a correlation between the depth or intensity of the ibogaine experience and the duration of its therapeutic effects. The study also involves random drug testing of subjects to correlate data from the ASI with the results. A database is also currently under construction for managing and analyzing study data.
MAPS is also offering a $25,000 matching grant to a research team interested in conducting clinical trials with ibogaine for drug addiction. Interested teams with the qualifications and resources necessary for conducting clinical drug trials may apply by responding to the questions listed in the request for proposals and submitting them to valerie@maps.org.
