Can Psychedelic Drugs Cure Addiction? 

Psychedelic drug ibogaine is hailed as a miracle cure for addiction in some circles as proponents claim that it can eliminate all cravings and withdrawal symptoms with just a single dose.

Traditionally used in West Central African shamanistic rituals, ibogaine is a powerful psychedelic drug capable of producing vivid hallucinations. Though technically illegal, the hallucinogenic drug is sought out at underground clinics by countless addiction sufferers hoping for a miracle cure. These customers are willing to pay black-market prices of up to $10,000 in an attempt to escape the grips of their addictions.

According to some, ibogaine is able to cure addiction in just a single dose by eliminating all withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings. Unfortunately, alongside praise of ibogaine as an addiction remedy, come reports of the drug’s adverse effects including heart attacks, seizures and multiple deaths.

Current research is being conducted on the synthesis of a new drug that can mimic the antiaddictive effects of ibogaine without the dangerous side-effects. Unfortunately, this research is slow-going due to ibogaine’s classification as a Schedule I drug.

While some of this research has seen promising results, addiction experts warn that even when successful, addiction treatment with psychedelics is highly susceptible to relapse without the skills and coping methods developed during traditional addiction treatment.

Read the full story here: Treating Addiction with Psychedelics