Brazil's Psychedelic Renaissance: The Role of Ibogaine in Addiction Treatment
Rasmussen Chaves, a pioneer in ibogaine therapy, has conducted more than 2,000 treatments for substance dependence, particularly cocaine, crack, and opioids, helping to redefine what recovery can look like.
As a physician trained in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Dr. Rasmussen’s clinical rigor is matched by his deep dedication to exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. He has played a key role in the evolution of Brazil’s psychedelic research landscape, co-authoring pivotal studies and advocating for the safe, regulated use of ibogaine in medical settings.
In this interview, Dr. Rasmussen reflects on the cultural perceptions of psychedelics in Brazil, the unique legal and scientific environment that makes the country a hub for psychedelic research, and the profound healing potential of ibogaine therapy. He offers a candid look at the realities of treating addiction with psychedelics, the challenges of public misunderstanding, and his vision for a future where these powerful substances are no longer misunderstood—but embraced as legitimate tools for transformation.
4 Questions We Ask Every Guest
1. What does the term “psychedelic” mean in your community? If there’s an equivalent word or phrase your community members use to describe the “psychedelic” experience please share and explain. How do psychedelics impact your community, hometown and country?
Well as i work in an academic space psychedelics mean “mind manifesting”, which is the translation from the greek..
But for the general public it means “”drugs”or “things related to hippies”.
Psychedelics here in Brazil are most of them banned so they have small impact in the community. People need more education to understand the medical benefits of them. People tend to see them like “drugs” and compare with addictive substances, like cocaine and crack-cocaine. Ayahuasca is authorized for ritualistic purposes but outside the ayahuasca churches people don’t know exactly what it is.
2. What’s happening in your country in regards to psychedelics that the rest of the world doesn’t know?
Brazil produces a lot of scientific research about psychedelics, mainly Ayahuasca and DMT, but about MDMA and ibogaine too.
We have great researchers here on this subject. Brazil is the third largest producer of psychedelic research in the world, only behind the US and the UK
And Brazil is one of the few countries where ibogaine is legal, so we can do treatments here.
3. Where do you see the psychedelic revival going in the future?
I see that the medicinal worth of psychedelics is undeniable and they will reach the mainstream sooner or later, because they really work. They treat some mental problems and other diseases that have no effective treatment with regular medicines, like addiction, depression, PTSD, and probably Parkinson's, Multiple sclerosis, and probably much more.
4. How does the work you do contribute to the psychedelic revival and into the future?
I’ve done more than 2000 ibogaine treatments in the last 30 years, helping to prove that ibogaine is not only useful to treat addiction, but safe too, if you follow the right protocols.
My goal is to transform ibogaine into a valid option to treating addiction and other mental health problems.
Personalized Questions Curated for Our Guests
5. Your work focuses on treating substance dependence, namely cocaine and crack. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports there are “...now nearly 300 million [drug] users globally.” Why is ibogaine research being conducted in Brazil? I thought iboga is from Africa.
Yes, iboga comes from Africa, from the Tabernanthe iboga and the Voacanga africana plants. But due to the less strict regulation here in Brazil about some psychedelics, this turns doing research here not exactly easier, but not so difficult.
6. One of the studies you conducted, Treating drug dependence with the aid of ibogaine: A qualitative study, found that: ”Most patients were explicit about the importance of the experience with ibogaine in their recovery processes, mentioning that without the ibogaine session they would hardly had achieved the improvements they did. On the other hand, many were also keen to reinforce that without the accompanying cognitive therapy, the ibogaine session might not have been very useful. Because they felt in need of help to interpret and make sense of the contents of their subjective experience under the influence of ibogaine.” Please describe what “the experience with ibogaine” is like. Can an ibogaine journey be “mystical” and how does that affect treatment?
The experience with ibogaine is intense and profound, characterized by a vivid, dream-like state, where patients can recall scenes and events from their childhood, as well as significant and traumatic moments of their past. This enhances the experience of psychotherapy, leading to a deeper understanding of certain situations and providing the patients with better toolss to address behaviours that could lead to relapses.
7. Later in the same paper, it says, “...the most important variables to evaluate, in addition to reductions in drug use, are change in self-efficacy, psychosocial functioning, network support/social support, craving, and quality of life.” What are the odds of a successful recovery after ibogaine treatment alone versus ibogaine treatment supported with network support/social support, quality of life, and other external wellness factors?
Well ibogaine could work if used alone, without any other interventions, but it is clear to anyone that works with it that this complementary interventions and situations, mainly therapy, greatly enhances the efficacy of the treatment.
8. You also work with ibogaine to treat opioid addiction. What opiate does ibogaine treatment work best for? Can ibogaine treat fentanyl addiction?
Ibogaine works very well to treat heroin, fentanyl, morphine and other opiates addictions. Long lasting effect opiates like methadone and Suboxone are harder for ibogaine to deal with, but with the proper protocol it’s effective too.
9. Some things I read make ibogaine treatment sound safe. Others talk about heart risks with ibogaine treatment. How safe is ibogaine treatment? Who is it not for?
It is safe as long as you follow the right protocol, you need to stop some medications and drugs beforehand, do it in an hospital environment, with proper medical and psychological assistance and use good quality and high purity medicine.
Ibogaine is not for people with certain mental health issues, like psychosis, schizophrenia, some forms of bipolar disorders, or physical issues, like certain hearth, liver and kidney problems. And it’s only for patients that are really motivated and willing to be treated.
Bruno Rasmussen
Bruno Rasmussen Chaves is a physician specialized in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, trained at the Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil. With over 30 years of experience in the therapeutic use of ibogaine, he has overseen more than two thousand treatments and is dedicated to advancing the full regulatory approval of ibogaine-based therapies in Brazil.
He is a co-founder and former director of the Global Ibogaine Therapists Alliance (GITA) and one of the authors of the landmark paper “Treating drug dependence with the aid of ibogaine: a retrospective study,” published in 2014. His work was instrumental in influencing the regulation of hospital-based ibogaine treatment by the CONED (State Council on Drug Policies) of São Paulo.
Dr. Rasmussen Chaves was the lead physician in the first clinical research study using MDMA in Latin America, focused on treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and is formally trained by MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. He is not only involved in research but also actively practices psychedelic medicine, providing direct, hands-on care to patients undergoing treatment with ibogaine.
Bruno is currently engaged in studies on the long-term effects of ibogaine in the treatment of crack and cocaine addiction, with particular attention to its cardiac safety profile.
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