Should You Try Ibogaine To Break Your Addiction?
The battle against drug addiction can be incredibly difficult. Many people seek treatment and therapy several times before they truly break free from addiction, and some never break free at all. Thankfully, doctors and scientists are always learning more about addiction, which results in newer and more effective treatment protocols. One that is becoming more common lately is called ibogaine therapy. Ibogaine is a psychedelic drug that has been used in West Africa for years, and it is just recently being used as a treatment for addiction. But is it the right addiction treatment for you? Here are a few questions to ask yourself in order to make that determination.
Have you tried more conventional therapies?
Ibogaine is expensive and intensive. It is not usually recommended as a first-try treatment for addiction. Rather, it's somewhere that addicts can turn when more conventional therapies have not worked. It is a good idea to at least try a few months of conventional counseling and therapy before deciding to take ibogaine for your addiction. There can be side effects to ibogaine: abnormal heat rhythms, impaired kidney function, and lingering depression. These side effects are not terribly common, but traditional counseling is safer, works for many people, and is a good treatment to try first.
If after a round or two of conventional addiction therapy, you are still struggling, then it is time to think more seriously about ibogaine treatment.
Are you willing to travel?
Ibogaine is still a Schedule I banned substance in the United States. Although there are many people fighting against this designation as the substance's medical properties become more obvious, there has not been any legal change yet. As such, you will need to travel to get Ibogaine treatment. Most clinics are in Mexico. You need to make sure this is something you can handle and afford.
Do you have a basic idea of what mental ailments may underlie your addiction?
Ibogaine works by giving you insight into the mental health ailments and struggles that underlie addiction. (It also eases withdrawal symptoms, but that's not as unique; many drugs can do that.) It is most likely to be effective if you have already done some digging into the conditions and experiences associated with your addiction. This is another reason why it's advised for patients who have already tried conventional therapy. The therapy can get you part of the way, and ibogaine takes you the rest of the way. If you have not yet explored your own psychology, do this first, and then schedule an ibogaine treatment.
Ibogaine can be really helpful in battling addiction, but you need to make sure you approach it in the right way.