Pubdate: Mon, 21 Apr 2008
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2008 Calgary Herald
Contact: http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66

EXOTIC B.C. DETOX CLINIC FACING PROBE

Health officials plan to inspect a British Columbia clinic that uses a
powerful hallucinogenic as a drug-detoxification treatment.

The Iboga Therapy House administers ibogaine, an African root extract
that is illegal in the U.S. but not in Canada.

Ibogaine is a psychoactive alkaloid that causes what Iboga House
program director Sandra Karpetas describes as "a lucid waking dream
state," inducing a mental process she compares to "defragging" a
computer hard drive.

One ibogaine user quoted in the Journal of the American Medical
Association said the experience was "like dying and going to hell
1,000 times."

The effects last from 24 to 36 hours.

An ibogaine dose opens clients' minds to the realities of their
addictions, and the residual effects of the drug leaves them
enthusiastic about making life changes with little or no drug cravings
to contend with, says Karpetas, 32.

"It's going to give them -- clients -- insight, hopefully, but it's
not a cure."

Clients are treated one at a time, which means the clinic doesn't need
to be licensed, Karpetas says. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake