WHY IS IBOGAINE TREATMENT BANNED WHILE HEROIN ADDICTION CONTINUES?
The recent resurgence of the addictive drug known as Heroin in the United States has basically reached epidemic levels. Once found mainly in urban areas of the nation, this highly dangerous substance has broken out of its cage and has found a comfortable new home in suburban America.
The recent high profile deaths of prominent celebrities such as famous actor Philip Seymour Hoffman have brought this issue out of the darkness onto the front page of major media outlets. Despite the recent intensive coverage of this issue, this scourge has been raging in the background for a very long time, and it really shows no signs of abating.
For a time in the recent past, other addictive drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine have claimed the limelight in this ongoing narrative. In fact, Heroin last saw its heyday in the late ’60s and early ’70s. So, what has been the cause of the resurgence of Heroin on the streets as the preferred drug of choice for many people?
There are several theories as to why the situation has reached the current state. For one thing, Heroin today is generally much purer than it was in times past. This allows users to snort the powder rather than to inject it, and this makes it much easier to use. Another fact is this drug is much cheaper in relative terms than it used to be. This makes it more easily available to more people than ever before.
Another relevant issue is the huge rise in the use of prescription painkillers such as Oxycontin. In many cases, people who experience chronic pain for one reason or another make a visit to what is known as a Pain Management Clinic. Often times, medical professionals at these facilities prescribe powerful painkilling opiates for these people. When this legitimate channel for these so-called legal drugs is no longer available, many people turn to opiates such as Heroin in search of an alternative.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, A QUOTE FROM THE WEBSITE DRUGABUSE.GOV STATES, ” ALTHOUGH HEROIN USE IN THE GENERAL POPULATION IS RATHER LOW, THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE STARTING TO USE HEROIN HAVE BEEN STEADILY RISING SINCE 2007. THIS MAY BE DUE IN PART TO A SHIFT FROM ABUSE OF PRESCRIPTION PAINKILLERS TO HEROIN AS A READILY AVAILABLE, CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE”.
Another probable cause is a side effect of the so-called government war on drugs. When police and other law enforcement agencies try to contain the fallout from the over-prescription of FDA approved opiates, and doctors and hospitals move to cut off people’s prescriptions, this drives many people to try to find a way to relieve their pain. This phenomenon has been dubbed as the ‘Oxycontin Express’, in which people leave their home states to make trips to places like Florida in order to obtain large quantities of pharmaceutical painkillers.
So, which cities and states have experienced the most devastating effects as a result of this unfortunate situation?
A list of states which have seen a startling rise in the use of Heroin includes New Jersey, New York, California, Washington, and last but not least, Florida which has a special role in the situation due to laws that allowed for the rise of the so-called Oxycontin Express.
Not to be forgotten is the U.S. state of Vermont. The situation in this state is so dire that the governor of this state devoted the lion’s share a recent ‘State of the state’ address to speaking about the depth and range of the problem.
Much of these issues stem from the effects which opiate addiction has on people who suffer from this affliction. What are some of these unfortunate effects?
One of the most devastating effects of opiate addiction is the withdrawal effect. Opiates are powerful agonists. This means that they mimic the effect of naturally occurring brain chemicals known as endorphins. When they do this, the brain restricts the production of naturally occurring endorphins, and when the user runs out of the opiate, severe mental and physical side effects are the result of the deficit.
These withdrawal symptoms can not be taken lightly. They include unpleasant nausea, vomiting, depression, memory loss, sleeplessness, uncontrollable itching, and loss of appetite, to name just a few. These unfortunate physical symptoms prove to be impossible to deal with for many people addicted to opiates and thus drive them to acquire more of the drug at almost any cost.
The pain that these fellow human beings go through is almost unimaginable, and many people have tried to provide them a path out of this personal tragedy. Many researchers have turned to science to try to find a solution to the problem, and this effort has resulted in the synthesis of many substances that were intended to relieve opiate addicts of their burden. Some of the drugs that have been in use for some time include methadone, suboxone, and Subutex. These drugs were intended to mitigate the effects of withdrawal, and thus help opiate addicts to stop abusing harmful drugs.
Unfortunately, as well-meaning as these programs are, they are woefully failing. For one thing, the treatments are not addressing the underlying issues. Methadone, for example, is actually a synthetic opiate that is more addictive than Heroin itself. Many people with addiction issues are forced to make daily pilgrimages to Methadone dispensaries to get their daily dose. The other so-called remedies such as Suboxone are barely any better. Since they essentially remain addicts, they face the same issues they always have, such as ongoing depression and cravings.
Thankfully, there is a solution that has helped people in many countries around the world to conquer their addictions and resume a fruitful life. This medication is known as Ibogaine.
SO, EXACTLY WHAT IS IBOGAINE?
It is a natural substance that is found in certain plants known as Tabernanthe Iboga. This healing tree bark has been used for millennia by the Bwiti tribe in Africa, who exploit it for its beneficial effects. These effects range from a mild stimulant to a powerful introspective agent.
Recently, a humanitarian and entrepreneur named David Dardashti has started a movement to use Ibogaine as an effective and quick treatment for those afflicted with opiate addictions. This is for good reason, as those who have used this wonder cure to treat their disease have experienced an instant stop to cravings, immediate memory restoration, and very rapid detoxification.
This approach differs sharply from the other more commonly practiced therapies. For one thing, Ibogaine is not an agonist and is therefore not addictive. This means that patients no longer have to substitute one addiction for another. This also means that Ibogaine is automatically qualified as a short and a long term cure. In addition to all this, since it is basically a type of tree bark, it has health benefits that go beyond the actual treatment of addictions.
You may ask why this effective treatment is banned in the U.S., and you would be asking a good question. For one thing, research on this cure has been mysteriously lacking. This is peculiar in a country that is known for its research prowess. One explanation for this is that certain economic entities may have a vested interest in keeping the status quo the way that it is. This is a sad state of affairs, and one can only hope that eventually cooler and more humanitarian heads will prevail.
Benefits of Ibogaine
But to get back on the bright side, Ibogaine has many other therapeutic benefits that are applicable to other illnesses. These diseases include Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, PTSD, and it even has anti-aging effects.
Even though Ibogaine has shown amazing promise in the area of treatment of opiate addictions, it will help people recovering from this scourge to maintain a strong support system. Organizations such as AA and NA could be of some help, and having a regular session with a qualified therapist will help recovering addicts to make a full and successful comeback.
Ibogaine therapy is an amazing treatment that has helped many and will surely help many more. This being said, those who wish to reclaim their lives after the tribulation of addiction must have a strong desire and a willingness to come back to life and to reclaim their rightful place among mankind. If they have this burning desire, nothing can stop them from making a full recovery, and we wholeheartedly welcome them back.