Ibogaine, a formidable hallucinogen made from the root of a shrub native to Central Africa, is not for the timid. It unleashes a harrowing psychedelic trip that can last more than 24 hours, and the drug can cause sudden cardiac arrest and death. It quells the agony of opioid withdrawal and cravings and then gives patients a born-again-style zeal for sobriety. “My biggest frustration is that more people don’t have access to it.”That’s because ibogaine is illegal in the United States. Patients have to go abroad for ibogaine therapy, often at unregulated clinics that provide little medical oversight.

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Persons: Ibogaine, ibogaine, “ It’s, ”, Jessica Blackburn, “ Locations: Central Africa, United States