Underground ibogaine use for the treatment of substance use disorders: A qualitative analysis of subjective experiences.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Qualitative interview study (case series design) with self-selected participants
PubMed 36456173 · doi:10.1111/dar.13587
What was done
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 participants with substance use disorders (SUD) who had self-treated with underground ibogaine. The interview data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach to examine the treatment context and the hallucinogenic and cognitive subjective experiences reported during and after intake.
What was found
No quantitative outcome numbers were reported in the abstract. Qualitatively, participants described psychological phenomena including the retrieval of autobiographical memories, interpersonal and transpersonal experiences, personal insights, and psychological preparation, integration, and motivation for lifestyle change as key components aiding SUD recovery.
Why it matters
This study outlines the psychological and experiential components that users report during underground ibogaine ingestion, suggesting that subjective cognitive and memory-related experiences may play a role alongside pharmacology in perceived therapeutic effects.
Limits
The sample size is very small (n = 13) and self-selected, introducing potential recall and selection biases. Treatment occurred in unregulated underground settings with unknown dosages, product purity, or medical monitoring, and no objective clinical abstinence, toxicology, or safety metrics were measured.
Cited by
- supports The anti-addictive property of ibogaine was discovered accidentally by an individual with an opioid addiction whose cravings disappeared after taking it.