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darnold1975

Ibogaine For Opioid Addiction?

“Ibogaine got me through the door. The rest was up to me.”

-Unknown

Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Today, I want to talk to you about a plant that is said to help treat addiction. The name of the substance is called Ibogaine. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know much about this plant. But what I intend to do is to lay out the information and let you make the determination about what you think. 

First, we’ll look at its origins. Ibogaine is a West African shrub that grows in the Congo and Angola which is then separated from the root bark. The active ingredient in the plant is Tabernanthe iboga. Traditionally it has been used as a hallucinogen to suppress hunger and fatigue while also being used as  an aphrodisiac. Hold up! So, I’m going to be able to smell colors, sleep and get in the mood? And there’s a high likelihood that I might vomit? Count me in!

Purified ibogaine hydrochloride was first introduced to European consumers in 1939 under the name Lambarene. And it was sold in France until 1970 as an antidepressant that could improve mood, physical strength and used by athletes and others recovering from illness. In 1962 Howard Lotsof, a heroin addict, the experience with ibogaine was so transformative that he spent the rest of his life advocating for it as a cure for substance abuse. A Chilean psychiatrist Claudio Naranjo also advocated for ibogaine as a treatment which was described in his book in 1973 called The Healing Journey (Ibogaine Therapy Information- UC Berkeley BCSP, 2025).

Ibogaine is an alkaloid. The treatment with Ibogaine lasts around 12 to 24 hours. Keep in mind that the patient is in a hallucinogenic state. And though some consider it a “surgical” tool for addiction therapy it does have its medical risks (https://.randrmd.com, 2025). These include severe cardiotoxicity and neurological effects which have been associated with sudden death. Specifically, there are cardiac arrhythmias, hallucinations, seizures, nervous system depressant, bradycardia, hypotension, neurotoxicity, and negative psychological effects (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0736467919305700#:~:text=Background,of%20ibogaine’s%20effects%20and%20safety). This treatment should always be done under medical supervision.

Not only is ibogaine used for opiate addiction, but also in the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI), PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Formal testing showed improvements in concentration, memory, information processing, and impulsivity(https://news.stanford.edu, 2024). Here are some statistics to keep in mind about this particular treatment. Studies in regard to Opiate Use Disorder from clinics primarily in Mexico and New Zealand indicate:

§  80% of participants report the elimination or reduction of opiate withdrawal symptoms.

§  50% of participants report no opioid use at 60 days post-treatment.

§   New Zealand study found that 50% of participants achieved one year of abstinence.

§  Another study reported that 30% of participants never used opioids again (Subjective effectiveness of ibogaine treatment for problematic opioid consumption: Short- and long-term outcomes and current psychological functioning in: Journal of Psychedelic Studies Volume 1 Issue 2 (2017).

§  An overall analysis reports that 81% were classified as “responders” which means that they never used opioids again or significantly decreased their use after treatment.

§  In comparison with traditional treatments of Suboxone, Methadone and other pharmacotherapy, abstinence rates were at 50% at one month and 33% after three months (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6157925/#:~:text=Abstract,additional%2011%25%20eventually%20achieved%20abstinence, 2018).

Currently in the United States, Ibogaine is a Scheduled 1 controlled substance. Which means that it has no acceptable medical uses and a high potential for abuse. It is against federal law to possess, sell, or use ibogaine for any purpose outside of a federally approved research setting. However, Texas has allocated $50 million to fund clinical trials for addiction and TBI. Kentucky and Washington have also explored funding. And, yes, there are several biotech companies that are developing non-hallucinogenic analogs that could potentially gain FDA approval in the future.

While this treatment is not currently approved in the United States, a lot of desperate addicts will pay between $5,000 and $15,000 in countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, Portugal, Netherlands, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, and Gabon. Costs also depend on length of treatment and particular amenities of the individual programs. I’m not completely sold on this form of treatment for addiction or anything else. That’s not to say that people don’t find their own relief through this type of treatment. However, at this point, I would personally like to see more safety considerations and advanced research regarding this method. As an addict myself, I understand that level of desperation to want the cycle of addiction to end. My personal opinion is that I want to keep an eye on future research once it moves out of its infancy in our country. Thanks for reading! And stay informed.

Affirmation: I am a survivor, and I will recover.

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

#Thispuzzledlife

Featured darnold1975

What Are The Streets Saying? Lean

“My lean cost more than your rent, ooh (it do)

Your momma still live in a tent, yuh (brr) “

-Lyrics by Lil Pump’s song “Gucci Gang.”

 Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negativity energy, go away. Today, I want to discuss a drug concoction known as “Lean.” And how very dangerous it can be.

What is Lean? Lean is known as “purple drank,” “sizzurp,” “dirty sprite” and is a very dangerous addictive mixture of prescription-strength cough syrup, a soft drink, and sometimes hard candy  and sweeteners due to the unpleasant taste. The main ingredient is codeine which is an opioid. The misuse of codeine can cause a person’s heart rate and breathing to slow leading to an overdose and possible death. And it’s even more dangerous when combined with alcohol or other drugs such as benzodiazepines and Phenergan. High doses can cause hallucinations, vivid dreams, or nightmares. And can cause both physical and mental dependence .

Lean came on the scene in the music industry with such artists as Justin Bieber, Lil Nas and Three 6 Mafia in Houston, Texas. You can buy codeine over the counter in some countries (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com, 2025). However, in the United States, it can only be bought with a prescription. And with the crunch on doctors prescribing opioids, they syrup is more difficult and more expensive buying it on the street. Cough syrup that contains codeine usually costs between $250 and $800 per pint. Premade Lean on the street sales for up to $1000 per pint (https://www.arkbh.com, 2025).

 The precise number of lean specific overdoses and fatalities are not known. However, there are risks that must be considered including:

 I’ll be the first to tell you that I’ve never tried lean. I was one of those kids who always ran and hid when it was in liquid medicine form. If it was in pill form, there is a high likelihood that I would’ve used and probably gotten addicted to it. Thanks for reading. Take what you can use and leave the rest.

Affirmation: You are in charge of your life story.

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

#Thispuzzledlife

Featured darnold1975

What Are The Streets Saying? Inhalants

“The National Institute on Drug Abuse states, “The brain of a chronic toluene abuser is smaller compared to someone with no history of inhalant abuse.”

-Neil Rosenberg, M.D., NIDA Research Report

Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negativity energy, go away. Today, I want to discuss something that many teenagers experiment with, inhalants. Abusing inhalants isn’t a new thing. As it was very popular 35 years ago. And when you’re a kid without access to money, getting “high” is just a short walk away to the family utility shed. I’ll give you some facts. And then I’ll tell my story.

First, let me describe what “huffing” is even though it’s self-explanatory. Huffing is the act of inhaling chemical vapors from common household products to get high. And it’s a dangerous form of substance abuse. Even though it might seem less risky, huffing can be even more dangerous with potentially severe and fatal consequences (https://evokewellnessoh.com, 2024).

The primary chemical in many dusters is HFC-134a, which act as propellant and refrigerant. Inhaling duster fumes can be dangerous. It can lead to serious side effects such as liver problems, breathing problems and death. Duster and other inhalants aren’t considered control substances and can be bought most anywhere.

Air dusters also contain other ingredients such as:

·        Difluoroethane can cause heart issues and loss of consciousness.

·        Nitrous Oxide can cause dizziness, vomiting and nausea.

·        Alkyl Nitrites can cause increased heart rate or vomiting.

·        Butane can affect the heart leading to sudden death.

·        Propane which can cause convulsions and loss of consciousness.

Other possible side effects are:

·        heart irregularities

·        unconsciousness

·        irritation of the nose, throat, and lungs

·        coughing

·        difficulty breathing

·        shortness of breath

·        irregular pulse

·        palpitations

·        inadequate circulation

·        abnormal kidney function

·        frostbite of the nasal cavity

·        breakdown of muscle tissue

·        liver damage

·        suffocation due to displacement of air inside the lungs

·        coma

·        convulsions

·        brain or nerve damage

·        bone marrow damage

·        choking on vomit after using an inhalant

·        sudden sniffing death, which is when a person dies suddenly after breathing in an inhalant due to cardiac arrest (https://medicalnewstoday.com, 2025).

Over a fifteen-year period, teens in the US abused more than 3,400 products through inhalation. The age range was from 6 to over 50 years old. Teen boys accounted for 73.5% of cases. Of those with known outcomes from emergency room visits, 208 died and more than 1,000 experienced life-threatening or permanent disabilities (www.poison.org, 2025).

·        More than 22.98 million Americans have abused inhalants at least once in their lifetime.

·        And over the past two decades, less than 1% of individuals aged 12 and older report past year use in 2023. 

·        Inhalants are typically used by younger adolescents, with 4% 8th graders having used in the last year. The peak age is 14 years old.

·        Inhalant abuse is less common in adults but does occur, especially among those with access to chemicals (https://www2.courtinfor.ca.gov, 2025).

·        Only 25% of inhalant abusers tested in emergency rooms had no effects. Most had serious effects or died (www.poison.org, 2025).

Toluene is a chemical found in common products including nail polish, paint thinners, adhesives. It is also used to aid in the production of benzene, other chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and dyes. Toluene can also be found in printing inks, varnishes, lacquers, and some types of glues (www.OSHA.gov, 2025).

Another product that is popular among teens, which can be bought at any “head shop” is “whip-its.” It is nitrous oxide which cuts off oxygen to the brain, creating a euphoric high that lowers mental and physical pain. And it is used to make whipped cream. Using nitrous for recreational purposes is illegal. And you can be fined or jailed for violating inhalant laws (www.webmd.com, 2025). Lock me up!

I’ll be the first to admit that “huffing” was always one of my favorite ways to get “high.” Second, only to pills. It began when I started sniffing White Out. I would cover the page with it and then roll it up and start sniffing the fumes. Same thing went for gasoline. I would put a little on a rag when I filled up with gas. And then held it to my nose and inhaled deeply. All while I was driving. I know. Safety scores are totally negative. And for many years I would quit. Always heavily involved in other types of addictions.

Once the stress of my life engulfed me while I was in undergraduate and beginning graduate school, I would start huffing again. And I found my “main squeeze” in computer duster. Mainly, because it was much cheaper than other things. I was in therapy at the time. And the stress of life and the ever-hovering PTSD symptoms had me huffing every chance I got, especially after therapy. And one day I had left therapy, grabbed my can of duster from underneath the seat and started huffing as fast as I could to get the “incorrect” EMDR effects out of my brain. And when the chemicals hit, they hit hard. Suddenly, I couldn’t figure out how to work my steering wheel. I ran up on the curb and over corrected and spun across four lanes of traffic. Luckily, there were no cars coming. I sit for a second and realized that everything was ok. Still much higher than I should’ve been to drive, I cranked my Honda CRV and headed in the direction of a potential future employer. But during my stupor I forgot to look for vehicles coming from the right as I was about to make a left turn. And the next thing I remember is hearing the horrible sound of glass breaking and a loud boom. My luck had just run out. I had inadvertently pulled out into the back wheels of an eighteen-wheeler. And for a split second I thought, “Wow! This is it. Jesus, I’m on the way!” The next thing I remember is feeling intense pain but unsure where. An ambulance picked me up from the scene. What I didn’t realize at the time was that the eighteen-wheeler had gone over the top of the cab and crashed it in. Nevertheless, I was terrified that I would be getting a DUI. But there was no way to test for an aerosol. So, I vowed to keep my mouth shut. They did do a toxicology test, but an aerosol is from the lungs not the blood. And I would live with battle wounds. I vowed to never touch that stuff again. But I would always carry that little behavior not as a first choice. But still a choice I would always have for private viewing. I thought that I was finally scared of addiction and the dark forces that surround it.

After many of doing without it while engaging in self-harm, illicit drugs, and alcohol, I would begin again while living in Texas for a couple of years. But this time, it was spray paint. They both get you “high,” however, duster can give you a very panicky “high.” If it do it too much, it becomes downright scary. To this day, I still deal with huffing. I know that it’s typically done in teenage years. But that’s when one of my biggest traumas occur day after day. And in many ways, I am still that same rebellious and very hurt teen.

If you know of someone who is “huffing,” help them stop NOW! Because years later they will look up and realize they’re an adult who’s still “huffing,” if not dead. It might seem harmless, but it’s not. I hope some of this educational material will bring more attention to a very common problem with inhalants. Thanks for reading! Take what you can use and leave the rest.

Affirmation: You are not your mistakes

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

#Thispuzzledlife