Health Care

Texas becomes first state to fund ibogaine research for opioid addiction

If the study is successful, the goal is to win FDA approval.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during an election night party Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, in McAllen, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed a first-in-the nation bill Wednesday that positions the state as a leader in researching a natural psychedelic drug’s use in the treatment of opioid use disorder and other mental health conditions. 

Ibogaine, derived from a West Central African shrub, has shown in some studies to alleviate the symptoms of opioid dependence, traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. Its regulation as a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States has limited research into its use in humans. 

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