Members of the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission are looking for a new way to treat addiction in Kentucky. One substance that members are hoping to use is called Ibogaine. Ibogaine is a psychedelic that can cause hallucinations, along with other side effects.
Bryan Hubbard is the commission chair and executive director. During a press conference, he said this substance could go a long way in helping treat opioid addiction.
“It appears to do so by clearing and resetting the brain’s opioid receptors, while also restoring the brain’s organic dopamine and serotonin production to pre-opioid exposure levels. If this anecdotal evidence can be clinically validated, Ibogaine would represent a transformative treatment.”
While the drug is currently illegal in the United States, Hubbard said they hope to change that.
“The commission will explore the possibility of devoting, no less than, $42 million over the next 6 years for the creation public and private partnerships which can incubate, support and drive the development of Ibogaine all the way through the FDA approval process.”
Ibogaine is currently listed as a Schedule One substance and treatment using it is currently only legal in Mexico and New Zealand.
The money would come from the opioid settlement funds. The move has raised some questions. When asked about this, Governor Beshear said the members of his administration on the commission had not heard about this effort.
The commission is run out of the state Attorney General’s office.
Governor Beshear is facing Attorney General Daniel Cameron in November’s election for governor.
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