Marilyn C. Daley, PhD¹, Dennis McCarty, PhD², Cindy Parks Thomas, PA, PhD¹, and Traci Rieckmann, PhD³. (1) Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Brandeis University, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, P.O. Box 9110, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454-9110, 781-736-3906, daley@brandeis.edu, (2) Department of Public Helath and Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, 3181 SW Samuel Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97201, (3) Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97201-3098

While recent years have witnessed a 25% increase in the use of complementary and alternative medications, none of these have come into widespread use in the treatment of opiate dependence. Ibogaine, an hallucinogenic substance from the bark of the Iboga tree in Gabon, has enjoyed a cult following in Europe and Africa for some time. Enthusiasts claim that after ingesting Ibogaine once, their desire for heroin is gone forever. The drug has not been approved by the FDA for use in the United States since animal studies in this country have not been conclusive. To discover whether the treatment community would approve of using Ibogaine treat heroin dependency, Brandeis and Oregon Health & Sciences University surveyed 1,461 clients and counselors in residential, outpatient and methadone programs in Massachusetts and Oregon. Using the Azjen-Fishbein Theory of Reasoned Action as a theoretical framework, the 8 page questionnaire focused on four medications that are used to treat heroin addiction: Ibogaine, Buprenorphine, Methadone and Clonidine. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify demographic characteristics, normative influences and attitudinal factors that were associated with intentions to take Ibogaine. Although 10% of clients and counselors had heard of Ibogaine, none of them had ever used this medication. A substantial minority of 12%, or 161 people, however, claimed that they would use Ibogaine if they had the opportunity. Males, clients (as opposed to counselors), individuals in outpatient clinics, blacks respondents and respondents with less education were more likely to say that they intended to use Ibogaine.

Learning Objectives:

After attending this session, the audience should be able to (
• identify the benefits and drawbacks of Ibogaine, a herbal medication for drug addiction; (
• describe why treatment programs may be more receptive to herbal medications than to conventional pharmaceuticals; (
• discuss whether or not Ibogaine should be approved for use in the U.S.

Keywords: Drug Abuse Treatment, Alternative Medicine/Therapies

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.