Deborah Mash: The Lioness of Ibogaine Research

Jun 8, 2023

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Dr. Deborah Mash is a pioneering researcher of ibogaine and one of the world’s foremost experts on the drug. She is a professor (emeritus) of neurology and molecular and cellular pharmacology at the University of Miami School of Medicine, and the founder and CEO of DemeRx, a company developing treatments for opioid use disorder.

What we discuss:

How Dr. Mash first became interested in ibogaine, including her connection to Howard Lotsof, an early ibogaine advocate
The structure of the ibogaine molecule and what makes it unique from other psychedelics
Dr. Mash’s early research: the first clinical studies of ibogaine in humans
Noribogaine: what it is and what it does
Ibogaine fatalities: is everyone who takes it is at equal risk of death?
How far have we come in terms of reframing our view of substance use disorder?
If ibogaine was rescheduled, what could the future of treatment look like?

Why it’s important:

In the excitement of the psychedelic renaissance, it can feel like all of this is “new.” It’s often said that there isn't enough research to support the use of ibogaine in a clinical setting, but Dr. Mash’s work is part of a growing body of evidence that proves otherwise. Reconciling her work and the stories you’ve heard on this show with the fact that ibogaine is still a Schedule I substance in the United States – meaning it has no medical value and a high potential for abuse – is hard to do. Understanding and working to change drug policy through research is a long game. We’re lucky that an expert like Dr. Mash is staying on the field.

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