Be Part of the Solution: How Your Experience Can Help Ibogaine Research

Posted: May 26, 2025

Have you or someone you know used ibogaine to treat addiction? Your story could help thousands of others find healing. A new research project is collecting real-world evidence about this promising treatment, and they need people like you to share your experiences. The Ibogaine Patient Survey is the first big effort to gather data on how ibogaine affects people in real-world settings. By taking part, you can help researchers better understand both the benefits and risks of this powerful plant medicine.

What is Ibogaine and Why Does it Matter?

Ibogaine is a natural compound found in the root bark of an African shrub called Tabernanthe iboga. For hundreds of years, it has been used in traditional healing ceremonies by the Bwiti people of Central Africa. In recent decades, it has gained attention for its ability to interrupt addiction, especially to opioids. Unlike most addiction treatments that require ongoing medication or therapy, ibogaine works differently. Many people report that a single treatment greatly reduces or eliminates withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings. Some describe deep psychological insights that help them understand and address the root causes of their addiction. "Ibogaine isn't just about cleaning out the body," explains Dr. Alan Davis, Director of the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education at Ohio State University. "Many patients report a kind of 'life review' experience where they gain new views on their past and their addiction. These insights seem to help people make lasting changes. "Despite these promising reports, ibogaine remains largely unknown to mainstream medicine. It's classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States, making research difficult. Most people who seek ibogaine treatment must travel to countries where it's legal, often to clinics with varying standards of care. This creates a big knowledge gap. Without good research, we don't have clear answers about ibogaine's safety, best dosing, or long-term effectiveness. The Ibogaine Patient Survey aims to help fill this gap by collecting data directly from people who have used ibogaine.

The RAY Platform: Research Accelerated by You

The Ibogaine Patient Survey is part of a larger project called RAY: Research Accelerated by You. This platform collects self-reported data from people who have used psychedelic medicines and stores it in a secure database that researchers can access."RAY stands for 'Research Accelerated by You' because that's exactly what it is—research that's powered by real people sharing their real experiences," says Dr. Stacey Armstrong, a Senior Researcher at the Center. "Traditional clinical trials are essential, but they can take years and often involve small, carefully selected groups of participants. RAY complements these trials by gathering diverse, real-world data on a much larger scale. "The platform is designed to be user-friendly. Participants complete online questionnaires about their ibogaine experience, with the option to save their progress and return later if needed. The entire process typically takes 20-30 minutes. All information remains 100% confidential. The data is anonymized before being shared with researchers, ensuring that participants' privacy is protected.

Why Your Experience Matters

If you've used ibogaine, your experience represents valuable data that could help shape the future of addiction treatment. Here's why your participation matters:

Diverse Experiences Provide a Fuller Picture

Clinical trials typically have strict rules about who can participate, meaning they study only certain types of people under specific conditions. By contrast, the Ibogaine Patient Survey welcomes participants with diverse backgrounds, health histories, and treatment experiences. "We want to hear from everyone—people who had positive experiences and those who had challenges, people who sought treatment for different types of addiction, people who used ibogaine in different settings," explains Dr. Victor Pablo Acero, a Postdoctoral Scholar at the Center. "This diversity helps us understand the full range of ibogaine's effects."

Real-World Data Complements Clinical Research

While controlled clinical trials are the gold standard for testing medical treatments, they don't always reflect how treatments work in the real world. By collecting data from people who have used ibogaine in various settings, the survey can identify patterns and outcomes that might not emerge in more controlled environments. "There's a growing recognition in medical research that real-world evidence is a valuable complement to traditional clinical trials," notes Dr. Deborah Mash, a professor of neurology at the University of Miami. "This is especially true for psychedelic medicines, where the setting, intention, and integration support can significantly influence outcomes."

Your Input Could Help Others Access Treatment

Currently, most people can't access ibogaine through normal healthcare systems. By contributing to research that clarifies ibogaine's risks and benefits, you could help make this treatment more widely available to those who need it. "Many people tell us that ibogaine saved their life after multiple failed attempts with conventional treatments," says Dr. Davis. "But without solid research data, it's difficult to advocate for policy changes or medical acceptance. Every survey response brings us closer to having that data."

What Participating Involves

Participating in the Ibogaine Patient Survey is straightforward and can be done entirely online. Here's what to expect:

1. Consent and Registration

The process begins with a simple consent form that explains how your data will be used and protected. After registering, you'll create a secure account that allows you to save your progress and return to the survey if needed.

2. The Survey Experience

The main survey takes about 20-30 minutes to complete and includes questions about:

Your background and health history
Details about your ibogaine experience (dosage, setting, etc.)
Any preparation or integration support you received
Short-term and long-term effects you experienced
Any challenges or adverse effects you encountered

The questions are designed to be clear and straightforward. You can complete the survey in one sitting or break it up into smaller sessions.

3. Optional Follow-Up

Some participants may be invited to complete follow-up surveys at later dates to track long-term outcomes. These follow-ups are optional but provide valuable data on how ibogaine's effects evolve over time. "We've designed the process to be as user-friendly as possible," says Anita Davis, a research assistant with the project. "We understand that people are busy, and we value every minute they're willing to share with us."

The Research Team: Who's Behind the Survey

The Ibogaine Patient Survey is led by a team of respected researchers with extensive experience in psychedelic science and addiction treatment:

Dr. Alan Davis

As Director of the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education at Ohio State University, Dr. Davis has published more than 85 scientific articles on psychedelic substances. His research includes several studies on the clinical use of ibogaine for mental health and substance use disorders. "I've been studying psychedelic medicines for years, and ibogaine stands out for its unique potential in addiction treatment," says Dr. Davis. "But we need more data to understand how to maximize its benefits while minimizing risks."

Dr. Stacey Armstrong

A licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in treating trauma, Dr. Armstrong joined the Center as a Senior Researcher after completing her clinical post-doctoral fellowship at Summa Health's Traumatic Stress Center. "As a clinician, I've seen how difficult it can be to treat entrenched addiction and trauma with conventional approaches," Dr. Armstrong notes. "Ibogaine represents a potentially game-changing tool, but we need to understand it better before it can be widely implemented."

Dr. Victor Pablo Acero

As a Postdoctoral Scholar and Manager of Operations and Strategy at the Center, Dr. Acero focuses on psychedelic therapies for recovery from traumatic brain injury and interventions for veteran populations. "What excites me about the Ibogaine Patient Survey is its democratic approach to research," says Dr. Acero. "We're not just studying people—we're inviting them to be active participants in advancing scientific knowledge."

Dr. Deborah Mash

A professor of neurology and molecular and cellular pharmacology at the University of Miami, Dr. Mash is also the director of the Brain Endowment Bank and CEO of DemeRx. She has been studying ibogaine for decades and is a leading authority on its pharmacology and potential therapeutic applications. "I've been researching ibogaine since the 1990s, and I've seen remarkable results," Dr. Mash explains. "But we need larger datasets to convince the medical establishment and regulatory bodies of its value. This survey is an important step in that direction."

Safety Considerations and Ethical Research

It's important to note that the Ibogaine Patient Survey is collecting data on past experiences—it is not providing ibogaine or encouraging its use. The researchers emphasize that ibogaine carries significant risks and should never be used without proper medical screening and supervision. "Ibogaine can affect heart rhythm and has been associated with fatalities in some cases, particularly when used without proper medical screening and monitoring," cautions Dr. Davis. "Our goal is to better understand both the benefits and the risks so that if ibogaine does become more widely available, it can be used as safely as possible. "The survey itself has been reviewed by ethical oversight committees to ensure it meets standards for human subjects research. All data is protected by robust security measures, and participants can withdraw from the study at any time.

The Bigger Picture: Changing How We Treat Addiction

The Ibogaine Patient Survey is part of a broader shift in how we approach addiction treatment. For decades, the dominant model has focused on managing symptoms and preventing relapse through ongoing medication and behavioral therapy. While these approaches help many people, they don't work for everyone. Psychedelic medicines like ibogaine offer a different approach—one that addresses not just the physical aspects of addiction but also the psychological, emotional, and even spiritual dimensions. Rather than requiring daily medication indefinitely, they may facilitate profound transformative experiences that allow some people to break free from addiction patterns entirely. "We're seeing a renaissance in psychedelic research across the board," notes Dr. Acero. "From psilocybin for depression to MDMA for PTSD, these substances are showing remarkable therapeutic potential. Ibogaine is unique among them for its specific effects on addiction, particularly opioid addiction, which continues to claim thousands of lives each year. "The opioid crisis has highlighted the urgent need for more effective treatments. In 2021 alone, over 100,000 Americans died from drug overdoses, with opioids involved in the majority of these deaths. Conventional treatments, while helpful for many, have not stemmed this tide. "If ibogaine can help even a fraction of people who haven't responded to other treatments, it could save countless lives," says Dr. Davis. "But we need solid evidence to make that case to medical professionals, insurers, and regulators."

How Your Participation Creates Change

When you participate in the Ibogaine Patient Survey, your experience becomes part of a growing body of evidence that could influence:

Clinical Practice

As data accumulates, researchers can identify best practices for ibogaine treatment—optimal dosing, preparation and integration protocols, safety measures, and more. This information can help guide clinicians if and when ibogaine becomes more widely available.

Research Funding

Compelling preliminary data often leads to increased funding for more rigorous clinical trials. Your participation could help researchers secure the resources needed for larger studies.

Policy and Regulation

Evidence of ibogaine's potential benefits could influence how it's classified and regulated, potentially opening pathways for legal, supervised therapeutic use.

Public Understanding

As research findings are published and shared, public perception of ibogaine may shift from viewing it as merely an illicit drug to recognizing it as a potential medicine with specific therapeutic applications. "Every survey response contributes to this momentum," emphasizes Dr. Armstrong. "It's a way of voting with your experience for the kind of research and treatment options you want to see available."

Join the Movement: How to Participate

If you've used ibogaine and want to contribute to this important research, participating is simple:

Visit the Ibogaine Patient Survey website at ibogainepatientsurvey.org
Click on "Take the Survey" to begin the consent and registration process
Complete the survey at your own pace, saving your progress if needed
Share the opportunity with others who might have relevant experiences

"We're incredibly grateful to everyone who takes the time to share their experience," says Dr. Davis. "Each response helps build our understanding of how ibogaine works, for whom it works best, and how it can be used most safely and effectively. "By participating, you're not just sharing your story—you're helping write a new chapter in how we understand and treat addiction. In a field where progress has been painfully slow and lives are lost daily, your contribution could make a real difference. "If you've walked the path of ibogaine treatment, whether it helped you or not, your experience contains valuable wisdom," reflects Dr. Acero. "By sharing that wisdom, you help light the way for others who are still searching for healing."

Disclaimer: Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy has not been approved by any regulatory agencies in the United States, and the safety and efficacy are still not formally established at the time of this writing.

References

Ibogaine Patient Survey. (2025). Share your life review: Participate in the first large-scale study collecting real-world evidence on the safety and effectiveness of ibogaine. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://ibogainepatientsurvey.org/

Davis, A. K., Barsuglia, J. P., Windham-Herman, A. M., Lynch, M., & Polanco, M. (2017). Subjective effectiveness of ibogaine treatment for problematic opioid consumption: Short- and long-term outcomes and current psychological functioning. Journal of Psychedelic Studies, 1(2), 65-73. https://doi.org/10.1556/2054.01.2017.009

Mash, D. C., Duque, L., Page, B., & Allen-Ferdinand, K. (2018). Ibogaine detoxification transitions opioid and cocaine abusers between dependence and abstinence: Clinical observations and treatment outcomes. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 9, 529. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.00529

Noller, G. E., Frampton, C. M., & Yazar-Klosinski, B. (2018). Ibogaine treatment outcomes for opioid dependence from a twelve-month follow-up observational study. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 44(1), 37-46. https://doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2017.1310218

Brown, T. K., & Alper, K. (2018). Treatment of opioid use disorder with ibogaine: Detoxification and drug use outcomes. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 44(1), 24-36. https://doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2017.1320802