The opioid crisis in the United States has become a full-fledged epidemic. As the use of these highly addictive narcotics — such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, heroin, and fentanyl — has skyrocketed in recent years. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death in the nation.
Not surprisingly, the pandemic has inflamed this rampant abuse and addiction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2019, approximately 50,000 Americans died of opioid overdose. In 2020, that number ratcheted up to nearly 70,000, the highest annual toll on record.
Numbers from the National Center for Health Statistics are even more dire. That agency’s data shows that between December 2019 and December 2020, the peak of the pandemic to date, more than 93,000 Americans died from drug overdoses, comprising approximately 255 preventable drug-related deaths a day.
While governmental changes have been undertaken in order to restrict access to these types of drugs, the growing problem continues to rage out of control. Cracking down on prescription and illicit use is one way to try to curb usage.
But former Southampton resident Spero Alexio, a clinically trained psychotherapist and pioneer in non-traditional drug treatment, has discovered a different path. Through his practice, he’s taken his patients through to the other side of healing while addressing the root cause of addiction.
Now based in Las Vegas, the psychotherapist has developed what he calls “Qtherapy,” a form of exposure therapy that neutralizes the cues associated with addictive behavior. His research in the field of addictive illness and the dynamics of relapse have led him to the discovery of a plant-based medicine called Ibogaine that he says could revolutionize the opioid detox process.
The hallucinogenic plant is a naturally occurring psychoactive in the root barks of the African iboga shrub, a perennial rainforest plant native to West Africa and indigenous to Gabon and the Congo. Used by some African tribes, such as the Pygmy and Bwiti, for religious purposes, the psychedelic has dissociative properties, which have been hailed as helpful in facilitating psychological introspection and spiritual exploration. It is currently illegal in the United States but is available in other countries.
“Basically, Ibogaine opens the doors of perception, taking the user on a mystical trip through the traumatic experiences that fueled the addiction,” says Alexio of the psychedelic, which research has shown to put users in altered “dreamlike states,” allowing them to process their fears and negative emotions. “They’ve had a vision of their lives, ‘snapshots’ of significant people and events … ultimately providing a rapid detox that repairs the neurotransmitters in your brain.”
That said, Ibogaine is not a magical cure-all, he continues. Though many who experience it feel as if their drug addiction is wiped out in one fell swoop, there’s real danger in such simplistic thinking.
“Yes, it can catapult you into recovery, but you need to do it the right way,” he admonishes. “And that includes doing the research and finding a reputable treatment facility that will conduct the appropriate medical and psychological screenings, and also making sure that you’re in the right frame of mind to do it beforehand, and then undertaking the correct therapy and self-care afterward.”
Alexio warns that while Ibogaine is extremely effective for some, it’s not for everyone. And there’s a real danger for some, especially those with heart conditions, immune disorders, liver problems and schizophrenia. It’s also important to understand that ibogaine, which interacts with multiple neurotransmitter systems within the body, specifically affecting opioid receptors and serotonin and dopamine systems, does contain toxin and has been shown to contribute to neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity.
Though he is not involved in the administering of Ibogaine, Alexio has provided aftercare for many patients who have used it to break their addictions. A healthy number have been able to walk away from opioid addiction for good, he says, adding that those in the throes of addiction should have access to every tool available for effective treatment.
“I’m all about science-based detox alternatives for relapse-free recovery,” he says. “Especially ones that free people from the intense grip of addictive substances.”
For more information, visit www.theibogainetour.com.