http://www.mndaily.com/2010/09/17/drug-activist-speaks-about-possible-addiction-cure-0
Dana Beal spoke to University students about a drug that may be used
to cure addictions.
By Laura Sievert
2010 / 09 / 17
In a basement corner of the new Science Teaching and Student Services
Building approximately 30 students gathered to hear Dana Beal, a
longtime advocate of legalizing marijuana, speak on behalf of another
drug that is currently illegal.
He was advocating for the drug Ibogaine, and credited it with the
ability to heal a drug or alcohol addictions after a single dose. But
with few studies to support Beal's claims, some students were left wondering.
Ibogaine is currently legal in some parts of the Netherlands, Canada
and Mexico, but is considered a schedule one drug in the United
States by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which means it
is illegal to possess it under any circumstances.
Ibogaine comes from the Tabernanthe Iboga plant, which grows in
Western Africa. According to Dr. Tracy Blevins, who has a Ph.D. in
biomedical science, the main side effects include nausea, ataxia,
which is the inability to move, bradycardia, a slowing of the heart
rate, and, in rare cases, death.
The drug works in three stages, according to Beal, stage one is the
"visualization stage," which puts the addict into a dream-like
state. The second stage is the "heavy introspection phase," when the
addict experiences a psychedelic state of mind. The final phase is
the "insomnia phase" and the addict will sleep for approximately 36
hours before waking up free of both the addiction and any withdrawal symptoms.
He went on to say that in some cases the user will need multiple
doses to completely interrupt their addiction. Some need another
dose three to 12 months later.
"I know they have problems with psychedelic drugs in medicine, but
they can't have the therapeutic effects without the psychedelic
effects," Beal said.
Despite the passionate argument Beal made, there were still skeptics
in the crowd. B.J. Valente, a chemistry and Spanish major, said the
drug claimed to do too many things with barely any proof to back it up.
"It needs more work done on it," he said, "like actual comprehensive
studies. But if it really has been having a positive effect on
people, it bears looking into."
The event was sponsored by Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP)
and the majority of attendees were current members. Zach Tauer, SSDP
board director, said, "Ibogaine can be very beneficial to society if
the DEA allows the research to be undertaken."
Beal is going to be lobbying for Ibogaine this weekend as the
Universal Access to Methamphetamine Treatment Act just went before Congress.
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