Evan_Annix

Thank you all SO much for the work you do!

I have used both Ayahuasca and Iboga in ceremonial settings, and these are things that absolutely deserve to have an organization working to ensure that they are better understood. The amount of help and hope that my Iboga/Ayahuasca ceremonies have given me over the past year has been absolutely immense, it would be absolutely heartbreaking to not see these medicines available for those that need them any more than they are already unavailable, or further criminalized and taken away from future generations.

What do you see as the future for psychedelic based treatments for addiction/psychiatric treatments in the future? Much of the current structure for the proper use of Iboga and Ayahuasca is heavily ceremonial and involves a lot of spiritual elements. It's hard for me to imagine these parts of the treatment being recreated in a clinical setting with, or without traditional healers. That said, is there research that shows these elements of the treatments are important/influence efficacy?

If so, do you see the future of psychedelic medicines (at least for specifically Iboga/Ayahuasca) being based on referrals to traditionally trained healers, or traditional training being included as a specialization of the psychiatric/medical profession?

As a drug counselor you absolutely need to learn about Iboga/Ibogaine for opiate addicts, the amount of lives it saves is ridiculous, but it could be so much more if more people knew about it. Unfortunately it's illegal in the states, but is luckily still readily available through some excellent practitioners in Canada.

Fantastic answer, thank you!

I do have a follow up question though, I notice that both in this answer and on your website that all material referee to Ibogaine and not Iboga. Has the difference in efficiency between the full Alkaloid version of Iboga versus the isolated alkaloid in Ibogaine been studied?

Let's say I would like to look at a career in psychedelics research/advocacy, but perhaps without doing years of medical school. What opportunities do you see emerging/available right now? I currently live in Vancouver, so I am fortunate to be in somewhat of a hotspot with all of the conferences and amazing advocates like Dr.Maté in this area.