#4: Talia Eisenberg - The Present & Future of Ibogaine Treatment

Today I am speaking with Talia Eisenberg.

Talia is the co-founder of Beond Ibogaine, an addiction and chemical dependence treatment center in Cancún, Mexico.

I wanted to speak with Talia because the Beond model – a modern, medical-grade center – seems to me like the closest approximation to what the psychedelic medicine practice of the future will look like.

Ibogaine has developed a reputation as one of the most effective psychedelic substances for the treatment of opioid dependencies, including painkillers, heroin, and fentanyl. Recently, the state of Kentucky’s Opioid Commission announced that it would be evaluating a $42 million grant to study ibogaine for the treatment of opioid addiction and withdrawal.

However, by all accounts, the ibogaine experience is no walk in the park. A longer treatment duration and heightened risks compared to other psychedelics makes ibogaine unique among this class of substances.

To me, ibogaine best captures the duality of an incredibly promising new treatment model for one of society's most pressing problems coupled with the need for caution, screening, preparation, and safety monitoring due to the associated risks.

Talia brings a unique perspective to the discussion of this opportunity and its challenges, as she credits ibogaine with saving her own life and now operates one of the leading ibogaine treatment centers.

Talia received an undergrad degree from New School in New York City and earned an MBA from Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco. She is a serial entrepreneur, a mother, a wife, and in long-term recovery.

In this episode, we discuss:

* The history and impact of the opioid epidemic;

* Talia’s personal story of addiction, treatment, and renewal;

* The traditional rehab industry; and

* The importance of short and long-term integration with ibogaine.

As you’ll hear, I am not too familiar with ibogaine. I have never tried it and, since it has a smaller research footprint than psilocybin, MDMA and other compounds, I haven’t spent as much time learning about it. Thankfully, Talia was the perfect person to speak with to bring me up to speed. 

Listen to the episode on Substack, Spotify, Google or Apple.

Credits:

* Hosted by Zach Haigney 

* Produced by Zach Haigney, Erin Greenhouse, and Katelin Jabbari

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* Theme music by MANCHO Sounds, Mixed and Mastered by Rollin Weary

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