Ibogaine Could Transform Mental Health and Addiction Treatment—Will Texas Lead the Way with HB 3717?

Written by AnneClaire Stapleton and W. Bryan Hubbard

For nearly three decades, the opioid crisis has devastated American communities.

Since OxyContin was introduced in 1996, more than one million Americans have died from opioid overdoses. Entire regions of the country—especially in rural areas and small towns—have been hollowed out. Families have been shattered.

Every day, more than 200 Americans die from overdoses, and for every person who dies, countless others remain trapped in a cycle of dependency.

The system meant to help them is failing.

Despite billions spent fighting addiction, the most widely available treatments remain deeply flawed. The go-to medications for opioid addiction—methadone and buprenorphine—often require long-term maintenance. These medications are themselves opioids, replacing one dependency with another rather than addressing the root cause of addiction.

Abstinence-based programs are the foundation of addiction recovery in the United States. Yet, the reality is that relapse rates remain high, leaving many without a lasting solution.

The current system is not designed to heal people but to manage their illnesses indefinitely.

But a potential breakthrough exists—one that could fundamentally change how we treat substance use disorder and trauma.

Ibogaine, a naturally occurring psychoactive compound, resets the brain’s opioid receptors and, for many, reduces withdrawal symptoms in a matter of hours, studies show. Unlike traditional treatments, ibogaine does not require long-term maintenance or substitute one dependency for another. It targets addiction at the neurochemical level, offering a path to recovery that doesn’t exist with traditional substance-abuse treatments.

Yet, despite its promise, ibogaine remains inaccessible in the U.S. Outdated drug policies prevent the research necessary to bring this potential solution to those who need it most. And no one feels the impact of these failures more than America’s Veterans.

Ibogaine Is Helping Veterans Heal—But Not in the Country They Served

Every person who raises their right hand and swears an oath to serve in the U.S. military does so knowing the risks. They go to war for this country, leaving their families behind, prepared to give everything. In return, they ask for just one thing: to be taken care of when they come home.

Right now, we are failing them.

Veterans experience disproportionately high rates of post-traumatic stress (PTS), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and substance use disorder—conditions that often intertwine, leaving them struggling for years after service. Many turn to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for help, only to be given a cocktail of medications that mask symptoms rather than heal the root cause. Others are funneled into talk therapy or abstinence-based treatment models that fail more often than they succeed.

This is not just a Veteran issue—it is a national security issue. The U.S. military is an all-volunteer force, and its readiness depends on the health and well-being of service members and their families. When we fail those who serve, we weaken our armed forces and discourage the next generation from stepping up.

With no legal access to ibogaine in the United States, hundreds of Veterans have been forced to leave the country in search of healing, many traveling to Mexico and other countries where ibogaine is available. Nonprofits like Heroic Hearts Project and VETS send Veterans abroad for psychedelic treatments.

A Stanford University study examined the effects of ibogaine on 30 U.S. Special Forces Veterans. One month after treatment, 88% of participants no longer met the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were reduced by over 80%, and disability ratings for traumatic brain injury and PTSD dropped significantly.

For many Veterans, ibogaine has been a breakthrough in their recovery, offering relief from symptoms that had persisted for years despite undergoing traditional treatments. Yet, because of outdated drug policies, they are forced to seek this care outside the U.S., far from their families and support systems.

These are men and women who have given everything for their country. Why should they have to leave it to find healing?

The Broader Potential of Ibogaine—And Why We Need More Research

Ibogaine comes from the root of the iboga shrub, native to Central and West Africa. It has been used in traditional ceremonies for centuries, but modern research has discovered its ability to reset the brain’s opioid receptors, reducing or even eliminating withdrawal symptoms in a matter of hours.

In a clinical setting, ibogaine treatment typically begins with the patient taking a series of capsules before lying down, often with an eye mask and music to guide them through the experience. Over the next 8 to 12 hours, they enter an intense, internal state—one that can bring vivid visions, deep introspection, and, for some, a physical purge through vomiting or sweating. To an outside observer, the process may appear uneventful, as many patients remain still, seemingly at rest. But beneath the surface, ibogaine is believed to be rewiring neural pathways, disrupting entrenched patterns of substance use and mental health struggles.

Ibogaine has known cardiovascular risks, but these can be effectively mitigated in a clinical setting with proper screening and medical oversight. That’s why it’s crucial to seek treatment at a reputable ibogaine center with experienced medical staff who understand how to ensure safety and manage potential complications.

Unlike methadone and Suboxone, ibogaine is not an opioid substitute. Instead, it interrupts addiction at the neurochemical level, allowing individuals to begin recovery without the prolonged agony of withdrawal—a major barrier to success for many struggling with substance use disorder.

Research shows that ibogaine restores the brain’s organic dopamine and serotonin production to pre-opioid exposure levels, a process that normally takes 18 months of complete sobriety before it even begins to occur naturally. One study found that ibogaine fully resolves physiological substance dependence in 80% of individuals with a single treatment and 97% with a second supportive dose.

Ibogaine has also shown promise in treating individuals struggling with other substances, including alcohol, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Additionally, early evidence suggests that ibogaine may help those suffering from neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions by promoting neuroplasticity and possibly encouraging brain regeneration.

Athletes who have suffered brain injuries from concussions are also finding healing through ibogaine, as it is believed to help with brain recovery and managing symptoms of suspected chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Despite the countless anecdotal stories of ibogaine’s transformative healing effects, the exact mechanisms behind how and why it works remain unclear. While we know ibogaine helps, the current barriers to research in the United States, including its Schedule I classification, are holding scientists back from fully understanding its potential.

HB 3717: A Texas-Sized Solution: Why the Time for Ibogaine is Now

Texas has the opportunity to lead the nation in removing research barriers and supporting critical studies that could answer why ibogaine works and unlock its full healing potential.

The Texas Legislature is considering HB 3717, a bill sponsored by Texas State Representative Cody Harris, which would direct the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to establish a grant program funding the FDA clinical trials necessary to secure ibogaine’s approval as a medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder, co-occurring substance use disorder, and any other neurological or mental health conditions for which ibogaine demonstrates efficacy.

"Too many of our heroes come home only to face an even tougher battle against substance use and mental health struggles. This legislation is about giving them hope," Texas State Representative and bill sponsor Cody Harris said. "By funding clinical trials for ibogaine, we are investing in a future where Veterans, first responders, and all Texans struggling with opioid use disorder and other mental health conditions have access to the best possible treatments. We owe it to them to follow the science, explore every promising option, and ensure that Texas remains a leader in pioneering solutions that can save lives."

Texas is not alone in recognizing ibogaine’s potential. Arizona lawmakers have also introduced legislation to support ibogaine research, and other states are beginning to follow suit. Leaders across the country are waking up to the reality that ibogaine has the potential to revolutionize treatment for substance use and neurological disorders. If Texas does not take the lead, another state will.

This is a moment of choice. Texas has long been a leader in innovative healthcare policy. With the success of HB1802, which advanced psilocybin research, the state has already demonstrated its commitment to exploring breakthrough treatments. Now, with HB 3717, Texas can go further and position itself at the forefront of the next evolution in mental health and addiction treatment.

The opioid crisis is costing Texas billions, with over 1 million Texans suffering from opioid use disorder and thousands dying from overdoses each year. The cost of inaction is too high.

This bill won’t pass without public support. If you believe Veterans, first responders, people struggling with substance use, and those with neurological disorders deserve access to every possible treatment option, now is the time to act.

Call your Texas state representatives and senators. Tell them you support HB 3717 and the push for ibogaine research.

Educate your community—most people don’t know what ibogaine is or why it matters. Make sure they do.

And watch closely. Pay attention to which lawmakers champion progress and which ones stand in the way. Hold them accountable.

Texas has a chance to lead the nation in ibogaine research, setting a precedent that could bring hope and healing to millions. Now is the time to make it happen.

About the Authors

AnneClaire Stapleton is a multi-Emmy Award-winning conflict journalist and military spouse to a still-serving special operations service member. She spent over 16 years at CNN covering global crises, including multiple deployments to conflict zones overseas. Bryan Hubbard is the Executive Director of the American Ibogaine Initiative and a former Chairman of the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission. Both AnneClaire and Bryan grew up in homes ravaged by mental health struggles and substance abuse, making this fight deeply personal to them. They are united in their commitment to advancing ibogaine research as a transformative solution for those affected by addiction and trauma.