In the fight against the opioid crisis, many are looking to control the opioid epidemic effectively. One new approach to treating addiction to opioids is ibogaine treatment. However, its long-term effects and effectiveness in treating substance abuse remain controversial and highly debated.
At Lighthouse Recovery Institute, our opioid addiction treatment program uses more traditional methods to help people overcome addiction. However, our team is always open to learning more about unorthodox methods of addiction treatment. If you’re interested in addiction treatment at our center in Boynton Beach, FL, reach out to Lighthouse Recovery Institute online or at 866.308.2090.
What Is Ibogaine?
Ibogaine is a psychoactive substance that produces hallucinogenic effects similar to LSD. Traditionally, the iboga plant’s substance, a Western African shrub, is used in healing ceremonies and initiation rituals. Anecdotal evidence suggests it can help adjust brain chemistry to prevent withdrawal symptoms or cravings. However, there’s no scientifically proven research to back these claims.
What Is Ibogaine Treatment?
In small doses, ibogaine treatment works as a mild stimulant, while it can put a person into a severe psychedelic state at higher doses. When someone takes ibogaine, the substance targets the brain areas usually targeted by drug-seeking and addictive behaviors. Ibogaine rewires these areas and allows the brain to restructure itself to a state similar to before the addiction began.
For those with substance use disorders, ibogaine treatment can reduce opioid withdrawal and help them control substance-related cravings. However, these short-term effects are more helpful during the detox process; they don’t cure addiction.
Unfortunately, most tests have been done on animals, so there’s not enough evidence to report humans’ same effects.
Success Rates for Controlling Opioid Addiction
So far, researchers have completed small tests and analyses around ibogaine treatment. Many have had favorable success rates, while others can’t attribute the positive results to ibogaine treatment alone.
Some of the research about ibogaine for opioid addiction treatment includes:
- One study using ibogaine treatment to help people who are recovering from methamphetamine addiction reported a 50 to 80 percent success rate.
- A doctor reported a 70-80% success rate with effective aftercare and added that after using ibogaine treatment for recovering meth addicts, 90 percent returned to the same environment that triggered their addiction.
- Research suggests treatment for addiction with ibogaine results in a 20-30 percent abstinence rate at a one-year follow-up. Compared to the 8.6% success rate on Suboxone treatment.
- A review of ibogaine treatment from Brazil, where this substance is unregulated, showed that one-time ibogaine treatment resulted in abstinence for 5.5 months, while multiple sessions resulted in abstinence for 8.4 months.
- Another study in Mexico analyzed ibogaine treatment for opioid addiction and found that one-third of the participants relapsed within the first month. Only four out of the 30 participants did not retreat after a year of a single treatment.
- A more extensive study of 191 patients with opioid or cocaine use disorder helped participants complete detox, and many maintained abstinence for several months, often reporting fewer drug cravings.
Ongoing Research
After these studies, researchers believe ibogaine treatment works almost as an interruption of addiction rather than a cure. It’s important to note that most of these studies are on very small sample sizes that may not apply to a more significant population.
While there’s promising evidence that ibogaine treatment for opioid addiction might be helpful, we need more controlled studies and clinical trials to determine this treatment’s safety and efficacy. Also, we need more long-term studies to analyze the long-term effects of ibogaine on the body.
Risk Factors for Ibogaine Treatment
Because ibogaine treatment is still not fully developed, many risk factors exist. It’s paramount to only try ibogaine treatment under the direction of a medical professional that understands the various complications, which include:
- Seizures
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Heart complications
- Ataxia, which is a degenerative disease of the nervous system
- Death
Researchers also noted other adverse effects like dizziness and lack of muscle movements throughout studies. These dangerous side effects are reason enough to stay away from the drug. Some serious consequences include cardiac arrest, which can cause death. With the minimal literature surrounding ibogaine treatment, many medical professionals believe there’s no justification for using ibogaine for treating opiate dependence.
Ibogaine treatment has many side effects, including schizophrenia, drug-induced psychosis, relapses of drug use, and system failure.
However, many believe research into ibogaine treatment is critical to managing the opioid epidemic despite these adverse effects. These efforts are based on claims that the substance can help people ease through their detox process, offer relapse prevention assistance, and eliminates the worry of daily or weekly redosing like other opioid treatments such as buprenorphine. Maybe adding ibogaine therapy could help some people.
Other Treatment Options for Opioids
While ibogaine treatment brings hope and poses the potential for treating opioid addiction and drug abuse, a lot remains to be proven. If you are seeking help for opioid addiction, it’s best to start with evidence-based therapies. Most treatment programs for opioids follow this process:
- Medical detox: It is best for people to detox under the supervision of a medical professional at a treatment center who can help assess any complications during the detox process.
- Behavioral therapy: Addiction therapy often includes cognitive-behavioral therapy to address the core of addiction and any underlying conditions that might trigger the addiction.
- Medication-assisted treatment: For opioid addiction, some prescription medications might help ease the consequences of detoxing. But this must occur under medical supervision.
- Group therapy: Struggling with addiction can often feel isolating; group counseling gives recovering addicts a safe and protective environment to voice their struggles and emotions.
- Long-term recovery: Overcoming addiction is challenging; seeking aftercare recovery programs that support medical professionals can help people remain drug-free.
Overcome Opioid Addiction at Lighthouse Recovery Institute
If you or someone you know is struggling with long-term opioid use disorder, don’t wait any longer. Countless treatment options can help them conquer their addiction and manage withdrawal symptoms. Remember, quitting potent drugs alone can be life-threatening and produce uncomfortable side effects. It’s essential to have the support and supervision of drug addiction specialists by your side.
At Lighthouse Recovery Institute, we believe in offering customized drug addiction treatment plans. We look at each program to cater to your needs and get better and walk towards recovery on a case-by-case basis. From detoxification programs to group meetings and more, everyone in our team is committed to helping you win the battle against addiction. Learn more from our Lighthouse Recovery Institute team today by calling 866.308.2090 or contacting us online.
