Ibogaine in Aotearoa

•Used for substance dependency for a number of years in an informal peer driven way.•A series of fora in 2009 drove an increased awareness of Ibogaine at community, medical and governmental levels.•November 2009, Medsafe placed Ibogaine in Section 25 of the Medicines Act as an unapproved prescription medicine. •New Zealand’s first prescribed Ibogaine treatment was undertaken in September 2010. •TVNZ Close Up aired a story on Ibogaine, June 2012 – to see article scan QR Code below right•Current NZ research with the Multi-Disciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) -   further information in column 3

Assessment Model

•comprehensive assessment is essential to develop a good understanding of the clients’ physical, psychological and addictions history.•used to develop an individualized therapy plan.Te Whare Tapa Wha Model of health is a helpful tool in pre-Ibogaine treatment assessment as it provides a holistic picture of the individual.

TE TAHA WAIRUA-SPIRITUAL HEALTHTE TAHA WHANAU- FAMILY HEALTHTE TAHA HINENGARO-PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTHTE TAHA TINANA-PHYSICAL HEALTH

Literature citedDurie, M. (1982). Te Whare Tapawha Model of Health.

Level of risk with Ibogaine treatment. Retrieved August, 2011, from http://www.ibogaine.co.uk/info.htm

Alper, K. et al. (2012). Fatalities Temporally Associated with the Ingestion of Ibogaine. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 57(2) :398–412

Medsafe, Medical Classifications Committee. Section 10: General business. 10.1 Ibogaine and it’s metabolite nor-ibogaine. Retrieved August, 2011, from http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/class/mccMin03Nov2009.htm

Observational Study of the Long-Term Efficacy of Ibogaine-Assisted Therapy. Retrieved April, 2014, from http://www.maps.org/research/ibogaine/

IntroductionIbogaine is one of the many active alkaloids from the root system of the equatorial rain forest shrub Tabernanthe Iboga.

Indigenous people of West Africa to combat fatigue, hunger, thirst, and also in ceremony for various pharmacological or ritualistic purposes.

The global use of Ibogaine for the treatment of drug dependence has been driven primarily from self-help groups.

Ibogaine has been shown to decrease opioid withdrawal symptoms and drug craving for extended time periods.

Although Ibogaine has diverse effects on the central nervous system (CNS), the pharmacological targets underlying the physiological and psychological actions of ibogaine are not completely understood.

Effects

•Often causes nausea, ataxia, abnormal sensory perception, stimulates the CNS increasing tactile, auditory and visual sensations.•may surface memories often observed in a way that can be emotionally challenging as well as therapeutic . Some describe this as ‘watching a movie screen’ or ‘waking dreaming’•experiences are described by most people as profound, frightening. Often seen as beneficial to the individual•more consistent with the experience of dreams (oneiric), rather than hallucinations

Current ResearchMulti-Disciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies MAPS

New Zealand Observational Study of the Long-Term Efficacy of Ibogaine-Assisted Therapy12-Month post-treatment follow-up 

Principal Investigator – Dr Geoff NollerEthical approval February 2012 First participant recruited, June 2012

• 12 participants to date:• 6 followed to 12 months post-treatment

- 4 full cessation (of opioids) - 2 returned to use

• 1 @6 months - full cessation• 1 @5 months - returned to use• 1 @4 months - returned to use• 1 @2 months - full cessation • 1 left study (returned to use)• 1 lost to follow up @ 11 months (returned to use)

Of the 8 followed to 11-12 months 50% have remained free of opioids

Global IbogaineTherapist Alliance (GITA)

A not-for-profit corporation dedicated to supporting the sacramental and therapeutic uses of Iboga through sustainability initiatives, scientific research, education, and advocacy. See QR Code below right.

•Tanea Paterson is a current board member for GITA and is on their patient advocacy committee. Tanea is on a panel at the 4th GITA conference in South Africa, May 2014 to speak about the prescription status of Ibogaine in NZ.•Other board members – Norma Lotsof, Jonathan Dickinson, Ben De Loenen, Clare Wilkins, Boaz Wachtel, Jasen Chamoun, Dr Anwar Jeewa, Dr Chris Jenks, Dr Bruno Rasmussen Chavez, Dimitri Mugianis.

Tanea Paterson

Substance Use Practitioner, Ibogaine Te Wai Pounamu

AcknowledgmentsMany thanks to Howard Lotsof (March 1, 1943 — January 31, 2010) and his beloved Norma for all of their pioneering work in the area of Ibogaine as an addiction interrupter.

Special thank you to my late Dad, Gordon Paterson x my Mum, Lois and to Kirk, Jasen and my whanau for their most important roles in my own ibogaine journey.

Geoff, Paraire, Claire and Sean-thank you for your valuable teachings. I.ACT, Dr Winsome Aroha and to all around the world in the Iboga/Ibogaine Community who have supported me and shared their knowledge and experience.

Figure 7. A seed of Tabernanthe Iboga

Figure 4. Remogen ™ Brand Ibogaine Hcl

Figure 2. Chemical structure of Ibogaine Hcl

Figure 1. Bwiti Iboga Ceremony

Figure 3. QR Code link to 2012 Close Up Article/Video Figure 5. Logo

for Global Ibogaine Therapist Alliance, GITA

Figure 6. QR Code to the GITA website. Scan for further information.

There is an inherent level of risk with Ibogaine treatment.

There have been a number of fatalities temporally associated with Ibogaine globally. The following risk factors have been identified:

-pre-existing cardiac conditions, sometimes not detectable by ECG-using opioids or other substances while under the influence of ibogaine, or shortly afterwards

Persons taking ibogaine need constant 24hr supervision 

Ibogaine an a Psychoactive - Therapeutic Application