Dutch study on the longterm benefits of ibogaine treatment for drug addiction

Ibogaine Aftercare - Post Ibogaine Treatment

“Life after Ibogaine An exploratory study of the long-term effects of ibogaine treatment on drug addicts”

by Ehud Bastiaans at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Faculty of Medicine November 2004 

Bastiaans study of the long term effects of ibogaine treatment on drug addicts posed the following questions:

1. How does Ibogaine treatment affect the drug use pattern of drug addicts in the long term?
 
2. Are the effects of the ibogaine treatment limited to altering the drug behavior of the addicts or are the medical, psychological, social and legal aspects in the addicts’ lives affected by the ibogaine treatment as well?
 
Participants were found online and responded to a series of questionnaires emailed to them at different intervals.
The Participants (before ibogaine) reported two of the following to be their drugs of choice
  • 98% Reported opiates
  • 26% Used methadone
  • 31% Crack and cocaine
  • 16% Alcohol

The average period of staying clean during previous drug rehab treatments (not ibogaine) was 9 months, while the median was 4.5 months

The results showing ibogaines effectiveness for long term success
  • 24% (5 out of 21) of all the participants have quit using any substances whatsoever, including hard drugs, soft drugs, pain medications, tranquillizers and alcohol. With an average drug free period of  41.2 months – almost 3.5 years. The median was lower, however – 24 months.
  • 39%  did quit their primary and secondary drugs, they started using other substances instead (usually, alcohol and cannabis)
  • 37%  still used their primary and/or secondary drug of abuse. But we can see that 6 out of 7 participants reported that they consume lower quantities of the drugs.
Other interesting findings from the study
  • 96% participants reporting psychological improvement
  • 88% claimed that they experienced a significant improvement in social functioning, psychological well-being (significant improvement especially in anxiety and depression)
  • 58% reported a health improvement since the treatment
  • The results show that the participants that were treated with HCl had a substantially longer drug free period than the group treated with extract. The average drug free period of the group treated with HCl was 26.8 months, while of the group treated with the extract – 2.1 months.
Ibogaine appeared to be effective in opioid detoxification, and about one-third of subjects reported abstinence from opioids for periods of 6 months or longer following treatment.
Life after Ibogaine An exploratory study of the long-term effects of ibogaine treatment on drug addicts  

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Faculty of Medicine November 2004 

Ehud Bastiaans Supervisor: Prof. Dr. C. Kaplan 

Testimonials from the study participants

One of the participants, P12, writes :”I have found that I have more interest and empathy for others than I had before: seek out friends more, feel more connected and caring towards students and coworkers. Also feel more empowered to make other changes I have wanted for a long time, such as job change, relocation etc.”
Another respondent (P07) shares: ”I became a reliable, trustworthy person. My family invited me back into the fold. Before they didn’t want me around. Didn’t trust me with anything, now they offered me cash for Christmas…that would never happen before. They enjoy being around me and I enjoy being around others. I have become more focused, positive and energetic.”
Ehud Bastiaans 2004, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Faculty of Medicine
Life after Ibogaine An exploratory study of the long-term effects of ibogaine treatment on drug addicts  

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