{"id":1957293,"date":"2023-06-26T14:47:02","date_gmt":"2023-06-26T18:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-veterans-and-lawmakers-are-exploring-psychedelic-therapy-for-ptsd-and-opioid-addiction\/"},"modified":"2023-06-26T14:51:39","modified_gmt":"2023-06-26T18:51:39","slug":"why-veterans-and-lawmakers-are-exploring-psychedelic-therapy-for-ptsd-and-opioid-addiction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-veterans-and-lawmakers-are-exploring-psychedelic-therapy-for-ptsd-and-opioid-addiction\/","title":{"rendered":"Veterans, lawmakers explore psychedelic therapy for PTSD and opioid addiction."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhy-veterans-and-lawmakers-are-exploring-psychedelic-therapy-for-ptsd-and-opioid-addiction%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1957293&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>The Promise and Peril of Psychedelics: Veterans Promote Ibogaine to Treat Addiction<\/h2>\n<p><em>The following is a transcript excerpt of a special Sunday edition of Morning Wire. The full episode can be heard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/podcasts\/morning-wire\/promise-peril-veterans-promote-psychedelics-to-treat-addiction-6-25-23\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>As the Opioid epidemic continues to ravage the United States, scientists and lawmakers are taking a novel \u2013 and controversial \u2013 approach to combating the crisis: psychedelics. Despite continued concerns about the drugs, a number of studies have shown promising results and some states are beginning to fund research. Now military veterans and advocates say that one psychoactive substance in particular, Ibogaine, offers a potential medicinal breakthrough that could save lives.<\/p>\n<p>Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley sat down with reporter Tim Pearce to discuss the potential medical applications of psychedelics.<\/p>\n<h3>JOHN: Tim, this is a fascinating topic that\u2019s gaining steam in Washington and within the veteran community \u2014 while also prompting lots of questions and concerns. First, how did we get to this point \u2014 this official interest in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/how-psychedelics-are-revolutionizing-the-way-we-treat-mental-illness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">psychedelics<\/a>?<\/h3>\n<h3>TIM: Understandably, when a lot of people hear the word \u2018psychedelic\u2019 they instantly think of illicit drug use, with images of Woodstock coming to mind. But that perception is starting to change \u2014 especially in the medical community, where a number of recent studies have shown that psychedelic drugs could have immense benefits in treating drug addiction, PTSD, and a slew of other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lapd-will-not-seek-charges-against-some-people-it-arrests-instead-taking-them-to-social-services\/\" title=\"LAPD Will Not Seek Charges Against Some People It Arrests, Instead Taking Them To Social Services\">mental health disorders<\/a>. The drug getting the most attention is called Ibogaine \u2014 a substance derived from the Iboga plant in Africa. Traditionally, Ibogaine has been used in shamanistic rituals for its hallucinogenic properties, but a growing number of scientists say it\u2019s a powerful tool in combating addiction. Back in the \u201960s, a scientist named Howard Lotsof <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2010\/02\/17\/us\/17lotsof.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">took Ibogaine<\/a> recreationally with six friends \u2014 all of whom were frequent heroin users. According to Lotsof, all but one in the group saw their heroin addiction disappear overnight, with no withdrawal symptoms. That experience led Lotsof to devote much of his research career to studying the scientific components of the drug \u2014 he commissioned a number of studies over the next few decades that showed similar effects, but Ibogaine failed to gain mainstream attention. It wasn\u2019t until the last decade, as the Opioid epidemic descended on the U.S. and scientists began looking for alternative treatment plans, that Ibogaine really burst onto the scene.<\/h3>\n<h3>JOHN: Right. Tell us about some of the studies that showed promising results.<\/h3>\n<h3>TIM: So, for years there\u2019s been anecdotal evidence that psychedelics helped people address problems in their personal lives \u2014 everything from PTSD to addiction. But there wasn\u2019t much hard data to go on. Because the drugs are illegal throughout the U.S., it\u2019s difficult for scientists to conduct legitimate studies on them. But in recent years, scientists have begun to dig into psychedelics and their potential medicinal applications, and the results have been pretty surprising. For example, A study in the <a href=\"https:\/\/akjournals.com\/view\/journals\/2054\/1\/2\/article-p65.xml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Journal of Psychedelic Studies<\/a> found that 80% of patients who underwent Ibogaine treatment \u201ceradicated or drastically reduced withdrawal syndrome\u201d for a variety of addictions.<\/h3>\n<h3>JOHN: So how exactly does Ibogaine work in breaking addictive tendencies?<\/h3>\n<h3>TIM: That\u2019s what scientists are still trying to understand. Once ingested, Ibogaine typically results in an 18-36 hour period where users experience often intense psychoactive experiences. According to users, those <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-veterans-and-lawmakers-are-exploring-psychedelic-therapy-for-ptsd-and-opioid-addiction\/\" title=\"Veterans, lawmakers explore psychedelic therapy for PTSD and opioid addiction.\">experiences produce deep introspective periods<\/a> that encourage and help convince people to reassess their addiction, but more importantly, there\u2019s the biological component. Again, we still don\u2019t know all the details, but scientists at <a href=\"https:\/\/hub.jhu.edu\/2023\/06\/14\/psychedelic-drugs-reopen-critical-periods\/\">Johns Hopkins<\/a> say Ibogaine appears to re-wire serotonin receptors in the brain and restore brain activity to pre-exposure levels. It seems to chemically erase addiction pathways in the brain for many users \u2014 and reportedly does so after just one or two doses. While other psychedelics that have been studied more extensively for their medicinal qualities, including psilocybin, MDMA, and Ketamine typically take a round of treatments before relief is felt. Ibogaine, on the other hand, appears to work right away. That\u2019s an important element of treatment.<\/h3>\n<h3>JOHN: Some of that scientific evidence has drawn the attention of lawmakers. How are they reacting?<\/h3>\n<h3>TIM: Yeah, most people wouldn\u2019t expect to see politicians publicly calling for research into psychedelic drugs \u2014 but as more evidence comes out, that\u2019s exactly what we\u2019re seeing in states around the country \u2014 especially those hit hardest by the Opioid epidemic. One of the states investing in Ibogaine research is Kentucky, which last year had the second highest rate of drug overdoses in the country. Just weeks ago, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron introduced a proposal that would potentially allocate $42 million over the next six years to research Ibogaine for treating drug addiction, PTSD, and a host of other mental illnesses. <\/h3>\n<p>At that same event, Bryan Hubbard, Executive Director of the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, detailed the research some of that money will be used for. <\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cAnecdotal evidence that is a mountain high and decades wide suggests that Ibogaine, within 48 to 72 hours of administration in safe, clinically-controlled conditions, resolves Opioid withdrawal syndrome. It appears to do so by clearing and resetting the brain\u2019s Opioid receptors while also restoring the brain\u2019s organic dopamine and serotonin production to pre-Opioid exposure levels. If this anecdotal evidence can be clinically validated, Ibogaine would represent a transformative therapeutic for treatment of Opioid use disorder\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>TIM: Morning Wire also spoke with Hubbard for more context on the potential medical applications of Ibogaine and why he wants more research into the drug.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cDue to Ibogaine\u2019s unique properties, it has the capacity \u2014 and a very accelerated time frame \u2014 to clear the brain\u2019s Opioid receptors, while simultaneously restoring the brain\u2019s organic dopamine and serotonin production,\u201d<\/em> said Hubbard. <em>\u201cWhich is almost always completely shut down in an Opioid-dependent individual.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>TIM: Hubbard also expressed caution: <\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cIt\u2019s important to note that Ibogaine does come with some risk, and that risk is associated with potential cardiac toxicity. If an individual receives Ibogaine treatment, it is imperative that they receive it within a medically-controlled setting with trained professionals. It is not safe to receive in the underground or recreationally. Anyone that would suggest that Ibogaine would be appropriate to consider for decriminalization is not properly understanding the risk that comes with it or the necessity for administering it within a safe, medically-controlled setting with the appropriate medical professionals present throughout.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>TIM: It\u2019s worth noting, the proposed money to fund that research is coming from an $842 million payout the state received as part of a federal lawsuit against pharma companies for their role in the Opioid crisis. This proposal is important because it marks the first wide-scale effort from a state or federal government to research the drug. Keep in mind, Ibogaine is still illegal throughout the U.S., so it\u2019s hard to know just how many people are using it. But as word of its medicinal application has spread, a growing number of Americans are venturing to places like Australia and New Zealand, where it\u2019s legal. This move paves the way for potential decriminalization, at least in a medical setting.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>LISTEN: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/podcasts\/morning-wire\/promise-peril-veterans-promote-psychedelics-to-treat-addiction-6-25-23\">Catch the full episode of Morning Wire<\/a>.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3>JOHN: Beyond treating Opioid addiction, Ibogaine is also gaining traction in the military community especially. Tell us about that.<\/h3>\n<h3>TIM: There\u2019s also compelling evidence that the drug is useful for treating PTSD and other service-related ailments. Retired three-star Marine Corps General Martin Steele, the head of the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition, says that while Ibogaine should not be used for everyone, it should be a tool in the arsenal for veterans in need.<\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cThe existing clinical research and the growing body of personal anecdotes suggests that Ibogaine, when used with careful medical screening, treatment protocols, and oversight, has incredible promise for treating veterans and others struggling with Opioid addiction,\u201d <\/em>he said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>TIM: Another veteran leading the way for Ibogaine treatment is Tommy Aceto, a retired Navy SEAL. Aceto told us he first heard of the treatment from fellow SEALs struggling with PTSD and drug and alcohol addictions.<\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cThis is going to be crazy to say this, but there\u2019s guys that wake up and they go \u2018I don\u2019t ever want to drink again. I saw what it did to me.\u2019 They\u2019re not white knuckling it at this point,\u201d <\/em>said Aceto.<em> \u201cThis doesn\u2019t work for everyone, but I can\u2019t tell you how many times I\u2019ve seen guys say that \u2014 and I\u2019m one of them. I didn\u2019t have to white knuckle an addiction. They were gone.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>TIM: Aceto says that while experiencing the psychedelic effects of Ibogaine, he was confronted with the reality of his addictions and trauma and came out a new man. In his words, he\u2019d tried a number of treatments and medications that didn\u2019t work and viewed Ibogaine as a last-ditch effort for healing.<\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cI felt a reset in myself. There were a lot of triggers, or what I would call \u201cthreats,\u201d and they were diminished tremendously.\u00a0 And I had stopped taking all the medication that the Navy gave me \u2014\u00a0 probably about 13 pills.\u00a0 That was a shocker. In our community, when you feel better, you want to tell as many people as you can.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>JOHN: We\u2019ve seen similar calls for government action from veterans serving in Congress. Give us more details on what we\u2019re seeing out of Washington.\u00a0<\/h3>\n<h3>TIM: This month, a number of congressmen, including SEAL veterans Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) and Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), introduced legislation that would allocate $75 million towards research into psychedelics. Here\u2019s Rep. Luttrell speaking outside the capitol:<\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cMake no mistake, my journey, my experience with this treatment was the most horrific experience of my entire life. It was absolutely miserable. This is not something you do recreationally. The medications I took were Ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT. It gives me the \u201chibbity jibbities\u201d even thinking about doing it ever again, which I never will do. I will never tell anybody to do this \u2014 ever. If you find yourself in a place where you are lost, and no other modalities have worked, this could possibly be that tool. I can honestly stand here in front of all of you and the American public and say this, I was reborn. This changed my life. It saved my marriage. It is one of the greatest things that ever happened to me. I\u2019ve never done a drug in my entire life, but I had to go overseas to do this.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>JOHN: But we\u2019re still talking about a pretty heavy-duty drug here. You mentioned earlier some of the potential risks associated with its use \u2014 what do detractors say?<\/h3>\n<h3>TIM: This is by no means a closed case in the medical community \u2014 there are plenty of doctors who are skeptical about the use of these drugs, and it\u2019s definitely worth noting that psychedelics like Ibogaine can have some serious <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cotton-bidens-border-crisis-is-a-superspreader-event\/\" title=\"Cotton: \u2018Biden\u2019s Border Crisis Is A Superspreader Event\u2019\">negative side effects<\/a>. Most notably, the drug can cause an irregular heartbeat and result in severe cases of ataxia \u2014 an affliction that impairs balance and speech. Ibogaine is also especially dangerous when those using it have other drugs in their system, including Opioids, cocaine, or antidepressants and other SSRIs. That part is important, because many users take Ibogaine because they\u2019re addicted to those very drugs. Proponents of the treatment stress that patients must complete a detox from any drugs before taking Ibogaine. And there are also plenty of folks leery of psychedelic use on religious grounds. Ibogaine users often compare the trance they enter to a spiritual state, and often report that during their hallucinations they encounter a sort of being who guides them through the experience. Many people of religious conviction say using any form of psychedelic drug \u2014 even in a medical setting \u2014 is essentially playing with fire.<\/h3>\n<h3>JOHN: Well, obviously we want to approach this kind of drug with a lot of caution required here. Thanks for reporting.<\/h3>\n<h3>TIM: Thanks for having me.<\/h3>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/onelink.to\/dwapp\">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP<\/a><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>transcript excerpt from Morning Wire&#8217;s Sunday edition discusses how scientists and lawmakers are turning to psychedelics as a unique and contentious solution to the ongoing opioid epidemic in the US. Despite lingering worries, they believe these substances could help address the crisis. Listen to the full episode for more details.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":134,"featured_media":1957294,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1957293","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1957293","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/134"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1957293"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1957293\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1957294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1957293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1957293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1957293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}