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Iboga Blog
treatment
21st January 2021 • Sticky Post
Rehab in France: Why French Addicts Are Seeking Addiction Treatment Abroad
France’s drug problem is bad, and it has been getting worse. There are epidemics of heroin use, a flood of cocaine from South America, and the constant importation of hashish from nearby Morocco. In 2019, President Emmanuel Macron admitted that the country was losing the fight against drugs in neighborhoods such as Marseille’s notorious 14th District and Paris’ “banlieues.” As the opioid crisis rages on, increasing numbers of French people have been experimenting with and becoming addicted to, the same opioid-based pain pills that have devastated communities across the United States. People in France are dying almost every day from opioid overdoses, and the problem seems likely to grow worse in the new decade.
The banlieues, social housing projects in the suburbs of major cities, are a huge cause of concern. They’re plagued by violence, rampant drug use, and radical Islam, but France’s drug problem goes far deeper than the slums of Paris and Marseille. In fact, the country has some of the highest rates of drug use in the E.U., together with some of the strictest laws concerning drug use. France has continually resisted calls to modernize its drug policies, even while acknowledging the shortcomings of the status quo. If you’re investigating rehab in France looking for solutions and a sense of hope, turning your gaze abroad may seem like the wisest approach.
Why Portugal?
Addiction treatment in France: why french addicts are looking abroad
Portugal was in the midst of an epidemic of heroin addiction (much like France in the 1980s) when they made the dramatic decision to embrace the principles of harm-reduction and decriminalize the consumption of all drugs. As one of the architects behind Portugal’s new approach explains it: “We realized we were squandering resources. It made much more sense for us to treat drug addicts as patients who needed help, not as criminals.” By removing the threats of prosecution and incarceration, Portugal has reduced the stigma surrounding addiction, and the number of addicts receiving treatment has increased by 60% since 1998. The results the country has achieved simply by treating addicts with dignity and viewing addiction as a health issue has caused countries such as Canada Switzerland and Germany to embrace harm-reduction. Portugal’s clear-headed, compassionate approach to treating addiction makes it an ideal destination for those attempting to overcome substance-abuse problems.
France has embraced some of the principles of harm-reduction, particularly by implementing needle exchanges and a pilot project for supervised injection sites. But the country still relies on opioid replacement therapy, usually involving buprenorphine, as a way to treat opioid addiction. While buprenorphine can stabilize the lifestyles of addicts and prevent HIV and overdoses, it leaves those seeking treatment dependent on a narcotic substance and does little to address the issues underlying addiction. If you’re looking to truly defeat your addiction, buprenorphine probably isn’t the best option.
There are some publicly funded options for rehab in France, and there are also privately run residential treatment facilities in nearby Switzerland. These centers have the benefit of being close to home, but for those without substantial bank accounts, the cost of effective treatment in a comfortable setting can be staggering. Luxury private facilities have rates in the region can be as high as 77,000 USD per week! And if you’re looking for a publicly funded rehab in France, you need to be prepared for wait times spanning weeks, or even months, before being placed in an overcrowded and under-funded treatment facility. The shortage of treatment beds and affordable facilities has pushed many addicts to the brink of despair.
In theory, seeking rehab in France will not put you at risk of stigma for being an addict in a society that views drug use very harshly. But if you’re living in a small community, word might still spread. If you’re looking to be treated with dignity and respect, experience compassionate care, and maintain your privacy, going abroad might be your best option. Drug addiction is still viewed harshly in many French communities, particularly rural areas, and studies finding that addiction carries more stigma than mental illness. In many small towns, the addicted are still seen as criminals who have succumbed to a “moral failing” rather than sick people in need of medical treatment. If you’d prefer to be treated as a person, rather than a junkie, as you begin your recovery journey, you might want to consider seeking treatment in Portugal!
What Are The Benefits Of Treatment Abroad?
1) Environment
Leaving an environment full of familiar stressors and temptations can have a beneficial effect in treatment, and Portugal is a great place to recover from the traumas related to addiction. It’s a picturesque country with a lovely Mediterranean climate. It’s dotted with quaint villages, ancient ruins, majestic castles, and miles of beautiful coastline. And there are few regions better suited to recovering your health than Portugal’s sun-drenched Alentejo region. A land of rolling hills and vast plains, the Alentejo offers visitors the opportunity to recover their health and connections to the natural world by riding horses, watching birds, stargazing, hiking and cycling. Many French visitors are especially appreciative of the temperate climate, peaceful lifestyle, and delicious regional fare, all while feeling at home with a climate, culture, and society that is familiar enough to feel welcoming. All this, while enjoying a rehab facility that rivals a luxurious resort or hotel for a fraction of the cost of rehab in France. You’ll disconnect from a toxic environment and share amazing new experiences with people from all around the world!
2) Privacy
While increasing numbers of people are coming to the understanding that addiction is a medical issue, there is still a significant social and professional stigma that comes with seeking treatment for substance abuse. If you head to Portugal, it’s easy to tell friends, family members, and colleagues that you’re off on a much-needed vacation and avoid awkward conversations and prying questions. There’s also no risk that someone will spot you emerging from a clinic or support group meeting and start whispering.
3) Promising Treatments Unavailable At Home
We’ve written a lot about the undeniable power of ayahuasca and ibogaine to combat the addictive properties of opioids and other drugs and to open the addicted mind to the idea of a positive transformation into sobriety. Because Portugal has decriminalized all drugs, promising treatments that cannot be obtained in a safe medical setting in France (where the substance is completely illegal) can be accessed here with the supervision of health-care professionals.
4) Easy Intake
When you’ve reached rock bottom, a treatment center that can quickly start the process of detox and recovery can be a life-saver. The prospect of waiting months for the in-patient treatment you need can be a heart-breaking, motivation-sapping roadblock. Options for rehab in France are often underfunded, one of the main reasons why the majority of French addicts are pushed into less intensive outpatient treatment programs and buprenorphine maintenance. Treatment centers abroad can immediately start the intake process, allowing you to strike back at your addiction when you’re feeling hopeful and motivated. This can make all the difference in the world!
Iboga Tree Healing House
At Iboga Tree Healing House, we have a unique ability to accommodate clients from around the world with our welcoming, open-minded, and international staff. You’d be hard-pressed to find a rehab more committed to the safety of their clients than Iboga Tree Healing House. We’re also deeply committed to maintaining a supportive and non-judgmental environment for facilitating recovery and personal growth.
In addition to offering iboga treatment, we also provide a wide array of holistic treatments, including breathwork, kundalini yoga, equine-assisted therapy, kambo, and more. All of these practices are extremely beneficial for re-energizing both body and spirit to pursue recovery. In combination with our ten-hectares of outdoor space, large terraces, and outdoor swimming pool, we let nature remind our clients to be grateful and receptive for new horizons and second chances. We have many testimonials from people around the globe who’ve benefited immeasurably from experiencing our treatments in beautiful, sunny Portugal. If you’d like to experience treatment abroad, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
20th January 2021
Alternative Addiction Treatment: Why Governments are Embracing Change At Last
As the opioid epidemic continues to ravage communities, end lives, and subject individuals and families to the horrors of addiction, a tipping point has been reached. Everyone knows somebody who has been prescribed a powerful, prescription painkiller and struggled with dependence. This health crisis, coupled with changing social attitudes that de-stigmatize addicts and addiction, has sparked a move to push the afflicted away from criminal justice systems and toward health care and treatment. As we begin to examine addiction without the blinders of moral censure and the criminalization of those in its grasp, citizens and their governments are exploring bold new alternative addiction treatment options that have shown great promise in healing the addicted. Let’s examine the factors behind this trend, and what it means going forward.
Big Pharma
For years large, profitable, and seemingly respectable pharmaceutical companies like Purdue Pharma, McKesson, and Amerisource Bergen aggressively and misleadingly marketed addictive painkillers in spite of mounting evidence that the drugs were being abused. Communities were flooded with drugs such as OxyContin, and the effects were devastating. As legislators and the public realized the magnitude of the crisis, lawsuits mounted, PR firms scrambled, and treatment facilities were overwhelmed. One effect of the opioid crisis was a loss of trust in both drug manufacturers and the medical establishment, which elected to throw dangerous substances at the symptoms of pain, rather than addressing its root causes. This has led public health officials and addicts to move away from profitable, traditional treatments such as methadone, which create dependence and examine the problem of addiction with fresh eyes.
Neuroscience Breakthroughs
Over the past thirty years, our understanding of the nature of addiction has been fundamentally altered by technologies that give us access to the functioning of the addicted brain. We can now observe the neurological processes and genetic predispositions that feed addiction and create treatments that effectively put this information to use. We’ve learned that changes occur in the addicted brain which dramatically affect how addicts view reward and motivation, regulate emotion, and maintain (or fail to maintain) executive control.
As one researcher wrote of the changes that occur: “Most prominent are the disruptions of an individual's ability to prioritize behaviors that result in long-term benefit over those that provide short-term rewards and the increasing difficulty exerting control over these behaviors even when associated with catastrophic consequences.” Understanding the mental changes that addicts undergo is fundamental to creating alternative addiction treatment models that will rewire the brain, and allow those suffering from substance abuse disorders to return to themselves.
The Truth About Trauma
We’ve long known that trauma and addiction go hand in hand. As the physician and philosopher Gabor Mate has been preaching for years, addiction is often a response to pain and childhood trauma. Researchers at Harvard University have come to realize that Mate’s theories on the nature of addiction were worth exploring. Kerry J. Ressler, chief scientific officer at McLean Hospital and professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School has been researching both the psychological and neurological effects of trauma and has found that an overwhelming majority of addicts have been traumatized. He claims his research proves that addiction is “a biological disease. We all have innate drives toward food, sex, and other novelties, but when you begin to abuse drugs, these drives become hijacked so that the normal drives are not nearly as rewarding anymore.”
Dr. Ressler’s research explored the links between addiction, trauma, the amygdala, and the orbitofrontal cortex, areas of the brain which regulate goal-oriented behavior and emotional regulation. He found that increased levels of a neuroplasticity protein, called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf), drive goal-oriented behavior. In contrast, stress or developmental trauma may lead to atrophy of the OFC neurotrophin systems, which in turn can lead to increased habitual behavior, such as drug-seeking.
It’s clear that reversing these changes in the brain’s functioning will be an important factor in developing alternative addiction treatment models and ultimately defeating addiction in the years to come.
Evolving Understanding
Changes in our understanding of addiction have gone hand in hand with society’s changing attitudes towards drugs. In many Western countries, Harm Reduction has supplanted the war on drugs, cannabis and psilocybin are increasingly being decriminalized, and forward-thinking societies have come to understand that treatment rather than prison is the appropriate response to excessive drug use.
Meanwhile, the potential of utilizing psychoactive substances medicinally has gone mainstream. Using marijuana and CBD to offset the effects of chemotherapy and glaucoma was just the tip of the iceberg. Best-selling authors like Michael Pollan and Tim Ferriss have realized that substances like ibogaine, ayahuasca, and psilocybin, all traditionally used as medicines around the world, have the potential to effectively treat a host of psychiatric ailments ranging from depression and anxiety to addiction. And even celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow are going on talk shows to discuss the incredible potential of psychedelics as medicine.
Scientific studies are confirming that psychedelics can aid the brain in creating neuroplasticity and manufacturing new neurons. Iboga has also been proven to restore dopamine receptors in the brain to a pre-addicted state, as well as dramatically lessening the symptoms of withdrawal for those in recovery. Other studies on ayahuasca and psilocybin in treating alcohol and drug addiction have shown that these substances have a beneficial effect on the neural pathways that influence habit, reward, and pleasure.
Change is Coming
As 2021 dawns, we expect all of the trends mentioned above to push governments and regulators towards action. As we’ve seen with the legalization of cannabis and same-sex marriage, changing social attitudes can prompt legislators to move quickly. As overdose death tolls mount and addiction continues to tear families and communities apart, we urge governments around the world to act quickly to adopt alternative addiction treatment approaches. Millions of lives are at stake, and every promising alternative addiction treatment option needs to be explored. If you or someone you know is ready to try an alternative treatment that we know saves lives, reach out to Iboga Tree Healing House today!
12th January 2021 • Sticky Post
Phones in Addiction Treatment: Why Rehabs Set Limits
It didn’t take us long, as individuals and as a society, to become incredibly dependent on our smartphones. From checking the weather and communicating with everyone we know, to watching TV, and even buying Christmas presents, smartphones have become central to modern life. We keenly feel their absence the second the battery dies. We reach for them as soon as we wake up in the morning. Yet most drug treatment centers either ban or severely limit their use (at Iboga Tree Healing House we allow clients to use phones in treatment for one hour every Saturday), much to the irritation, discomfort, and displeasure of their patients and guests. Let’s dive into the reasons why you shouldn’t be staring at that iPhone screen while in treatment, and why using your phone in rehab is a bad idea...
Maximizing Focus
The time you have while in a residential treatment facility is crucially important. You have a limited number of hours to work on the very serious issues that have brought you here. If you’re like the overwhelming majority of our clients, you have very serious issues to work on in order to emerge intact from the nightmare of substance abuse and addiction.
This means that your focus shouldn’t be on social media accounts, YouTube videos, or work email on phones in treatment. You need to devote yourself to rebuilding the physical and mental health that has suffered from your addiction. That requires you to be present, not distracted, as you deal with yourself and others. Whether you’re tasked with an hour of yoga, a detailed personal inventory, or a period of quiet reflection, if you’re not completely committed to the process of recovery, you’ll dramatically lower your chances for success.
If a rehab forbids an object or behavior, there’s likely a good reason behind the decision. Feel free to ask about it, but remember that you’re dealing with experienced professionals who are working hard to help you succeed. Your daily routine is mapped out with thought and care to maximize the benefits each therapy can provide. Whether you’re exercising, practicing mindfulness, sitting in a 12 Step meeting, or undergoing one-on-one therapy, your focus needs to be 100% on the task at hand, and distractions like using phones in treatment will make treatment much less effective.
Building Connection
As mentioned above, we allow our clients one hour each week to use their phones to catch up with the people they care about. Many treatment centers offer a land-line for clients to chat with and receive support from, friends and family. Support from your family is an incredible tool for beating addiction, and one that we wholeheartedly encourage our clients to take advantage of.
But for incoming patients, phones in treatment can have a number of negative effects. The first and most obvious is the temptation to call an old dealer, or a friend from when you were using, and ask them to bring you drugs. Obviously, this wasn’t your plan coming in, but triggers, cravings, and temptations can be too powerful to resist. Newly clean addicts are in an incredibly fragile state, and anything from bad news to a social media post could set off a negative reaction, which could put other clients at risk as well. In order to keep everyone under their care safe, it’s wise to eliminate any risk of substances being smuggled in, or someone else luring you out of rehab.
In addiction treatment, you have an opportunity to reflect on the nature of all of your relationships. If you’ve been living with addiction, we’d be willing to bet that a fair number of them are far from positive and healthy. Taking the time to reflect on who among your friends, family, and acquaintances deserves to be a part of your new life, and who is best left behind for the sake of your health, happiness, and safety is something you have the opportunity to do in treatment. Maintaining constant contact with everyone from your addicted life can be harmful to your well-being.
Mental Health
As you look to rebuild your physical and mental health in treatment, becoming less dependent on your phone is a great step to take. Studies have shown that excessive cell phone use is linked to a number of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and insomnia. And the symptoms caused by cell phone addiction are especially pronounced in young people, according to a study on 20-24-year-olds conducted by researchers at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. Other studies have proven that excessive use of cell phones and social media sites increases the stress levels of their users, which also compromises their immune systems.
Treatment is also a time to break down your walls and build meaningful, sober connections with the people around you. It’s much easier to create relationships when you’re fully present and engaged with everything going on around you. Researchers at the University of Essex in the UK conducted multiple experiments on human interactions and concluded that the “results demonstrate that the presence of mobile phones can interfere with human relationships, an effect that is most clear when individuals are discussing personally meaningful topics.”
Let's Get Real
Your treatment center has thought long and hard about how you can best use the limited time available to you to best rebuild your physical and mental strength. Wasting time playing on a cell phone may be a pleasant way to kill an hour, but it’s not going to give you the tools and inner-strength needed to take on your addiction. Instead of directing your attention outward, take this time to focus on the changes that are occurring, and need to occur within yourself. Mindfulness practice, cultivating hobbies and interests, and tackling past traumas are worthwhile goals for this time. Playing Candy Crush and looking at your ex’s Instagram, not so much.
7th January 2021
Models of Therapy: Comparing / Contrasting
As our understanding of the mental processes that occur during addiction has evolved, so have our therapeutic approaches in treating this “dis-ease.” Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has become increasingly popular for dealing with addiction, to the point where it now rivals the 12-Step approach as the “go-to” treatment for many clinics and practitioners. But there are numerous other approaches out there, each with their own set of adherents and detractors. Let’s take a look at the models sparking debate in today’s recovery landscape.
12 Steps And Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Since these are the two most well-known and frequently used therapeutic models in addiction therapy, we’ll begin by taking a look at how these approaches differ from each other, and whether they can be used in tandem.
One of the primary differences between the approaches is the “locus of control.” 12-Step models begin by pushing the addict to admit that they are “powerless” in the face of their addiction, while CBT is a method of self-help that aims to teach clients that they have the ability to regulate and control their own behaviors. The two attitudes are seemingly at odds, but as therapists at the Beck Institute note: “Patients sometimes ask us, “How can I take part in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy self-help if I have to admit to being powerless?” Our answer is that the “powerlessness” which they are acknowledging has to do with their prior behavioral and cognitive habits that were maintaining their problems with substances.” So while there is a philosophical difference between the two approaches, they can be reconciled.
Another seemingly large difference between the two methods is their guiding philosophies. The 12 Step program was initially inspired by the Oxford Group, a Christian organization which both Bill W. and Dr. Bob (the program’s founders) belonged to. As a result, spirituality is an essential component of the method, figuring prominently in the 12 Steps, 12 traditions, and Big Book. While strong efforts have been made to become inclusive of members of all faiths, agnostics, and even atheists, the spiritual component remains foundational to the movement. The 12 Step model is also based on the idea that addiction is a life-long condition without a cure, and that an addict will be an addict (hopefully in recovery) forever.
Meanwhile, CBT is based upon scientific principles rather than spiritual ones. It is meant to provide time-sensitive, practical solutions to a patient’s problems, whether with addiction, or any other disorder. It borrows components from a broad range of other therapeutic models but is essentially focused on identifying goals, and working towards them by recognizing and changing harmful patterns of thought and behavior. Simply put, the goal is to develop skills in recognizing what type of situation you’re in, moderating your thoughts and behaviors accordingly, and reacting in the way you desire. CBT models for treatment view addiction as an undesirable behavior that, when eliminated, is cured.
One final difference is the way each approach views harm reduction. The 12 Step model is based on absolute, life-long abstinence. Any slip in sobriety, even a single beer or joint, is viewed as a failure that puts the addict back to square one in treatment. CBT-based models, on the other hand, view their goal as allowing clients to lead healthier lives, and view any decrease in drug use or even a move to safer habits when using, as worthwhile goals and improvements which should be praised, and built upon.
While the differences in philosophy and approach are certainly significant, the two programs are certainly not irreconcilable. As one of our favorite precepts from the world of recovery states: “take what you need and leave the rest.” We’d guess that the majority of those in recovery have used elements of 12 Step programs and CBT in their journey to sobriety, and we’d recommend that you experiment with both and see what works for you.
SMART Recovery and The 12 Steps
Now that we’ve taken a look at the philosophical elements of both programs, let’s take a look at the differences in practice. The principles of CBT have inspired the SMART Recovery program, which can be either an alternative or a complement to 12-Step Programs. 12-Step meetings are led by peers and based on the principle of “sharing”, with participants offering their advice, experience, and struggles. In a 12-Step meeting, there is no “cross-talk”, meaning that you can’t comment on or criticize what someone else has shared. SMART Recovery meetings, on the other hand, are led by professional therapists or counselors, and cross-talk is allowed and encouraged. One powerful tool that the 12-Step model offers is the sponsor, someone who has been in recovery for a while and completed the steps, who provides advice, support, and fellowship with a newcomer. The sponsor is an extremely valuable resource for emotional support and they have proved crucially important for many recovering addicts and alcoholics.
The two approaches also differ in their conception of the addict’s journey to sobriety. In most 12-Step programs, individuals are encouraged to regularly go through the steps again. The idea that anyone in recovery is always in danger of relapse is common, hence the precept “too many years and not enough days,” which roughly means that an alcoholic or addict has become complacent, stopped actively practicing the steps, and relapsed. SMART Recovery, on the other hand, feels that those in recovery can become cured. As they write:
For many sincere participants there will come a time when attending our groups, or participating in our other services, is more in conflict with the pursuit of their life goals than enhancing them. Although these participants will always be welcome back if they want to come, this conflict signals that the time for graduation has arrived.
Other Alternatives
Existential Therapy
This form of therapy is based on the principles of existential philosophy as developed by thinkers such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus. Treatment focuses on identifying questions relating to the meaning of life, the responsibilities, and freedom individuals have to make choices, and the individual’s place in the universe and society. This method of treatment is probably more valuable to individuals who are already on their way in recovery and are looking to find meaning in their lives and make positive choices.
Gestalt Therapy
Gestalt Therapy is based on the goal of pushing the patient towards an understanding of the present based on their current reality, rather than preconceptions based on what has happened in the past. The goal is to eliminate negative thought patterns and build awareness of the control and responsibility individuals have over situations and emotions. Gestalt Therapy employs guided visualizations to promote self-awareness and personal ownership while emphasizing that recollections of the past are inherently unreliable. The guiding philosophy is that self-awareness in the present will result in more positive choices relating to physical and mental health. Gestalt Therapy is a good option for those looking to move on from past traumas.
Holistic Therapy
Holistic Therapy is a broad umbrella that contains a wide range of treatments that are generally personalized for the patient. These treatments are most effective as a complement to other forms of therapy, working to rebuild the overall well-being of those in recovery and also deal with the symptoms of withdrawal. Yoga, Tai Chi, mindfulness practice, art therapy, equine therapy, exercise, nutrition, breathwork, and music are all examples of holistic therapy. While the benefits of holistic therapy may seem peripheral to treating addiction, rebuilding overall health, learning to practice self-care, and creating positive patterns of behavior are all extremely important elements of learning to live a healthy and sober life.
Naikan Therapy
Naikan is the Japanese term for “looking inside” or “seeing oneself through the mind’s eye.” The therapy was pioneered by Ishin Yoshimoto, a devout Buddhist who sought to offer a more accessible opportunity for everyone to benefit from the arduous self-reflection demanded by many Buddhist sects.
Naikan is designed to allow us to investigate and gain perspective on our relationships with ourselves, the other people in our lives, and the nature of existence. It is focused on three fundamental questions that define interpersonal relationships:
What have I received from ______?
What have I given to ______?
What troubles and difficulties have I caused ______?
Naikan has proved useful for those dealing with addiction because it allows the patient to let go of resentments, a source of emotional pain that is particularly damaging for those dealing with addiction. Many of those who practice Naikan come to realize how much others have contributed to their lives and cultivate an invaluable sense of gratitude towards those around them.
Person-Centered Therapy
Person-centered therapy is a form of treatment where the client takes the lead, and the therapist acts as a “compassionate facilitator.” In this form of therapy, the therapist refrains from steering conversations and judging or interpreting what is said. They’re meant to exhibit empathy and encouragement while encouraging you to listen to yourself and take control of your own life. Their role is to simply guide you through the process of self-exploration, allowing you to draw your own conclusions and grow on your own. This form of therapy is recommended for highly motivated people, as well as people who struggle with trust and self-confidence issues.
Therapeutic Communities
Therapeutic communities are generally long-term residences (though outpatient options do exist) that aim to use fellowship and peer-support to combat addiction. There are many different forms of TCs, some catering to individuals with dual diagnosis, the LGBTQ+ community, adolescents, and various other issues and populations. TCs leverage the power of many, and as clients progress through them they often are given positions of responsibility and even employment. The approach taken at these facilities is often described as “community as method”, where active participation in a household, and the responsibilities of social life “drive individual change and the attainment of therapeutic goals.” Therapeutic communities are especially beneficial to young people, those with severe addiction problems, and at-risk groups. They have also proven effective at boosting participation in aftercare. However, the structured, regimented nature of life in TCs and the time commitment involved mean that they aren’t the right solution for everyone.
Trauma-Informed Therapy
Trauma-informed therapy is a method developed by Dr. Stephanie Covington, among others, as a way to offer more effective treatment for health issues, particularly for women and girls. The American Department of Health and Human Services estimates that up to 99% of women in substance abuse treatment have suffered trauma, and both males and females who have suffered Adverse Childhood Experiences are far, far more likely to develop substance abuse issues. Trauma-informed therapy essentially entails that your treatment provider will have an awareness of how trauma reshapes the brain and alters responses to stressors, and uses that knowledge not to address the trauma, but its symptoms. Utilizing the strategies and techniques of trauma-informed therapy can be a game-changer in treating addiction, as it works to establish safety (defined as stability, adequate supports, and coping skills) before addressing serious issues and processing the roots of trauma. This approach minimizes the harms that can be caused by diving into painful memories and emotions before the patient has the coping skills to deal with them.
Next Steps
As you can see, there are myriad options for dealing with the pain which has driven your addiction, and the pain which your addiction has caused. We strongly recommend looking at all of them, and honestly assessing your personality and your needs before deciding on a course of treatment. Remember, there’s no harm in experimenting with different forms of therapy. If you have any questions about Naikan, kundalini yoga, or any of the other holistic options offered at Tabula Rasa Retreat, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
6th January 2021 • Sticky Post
High-Functioning Addicts: Why Professionals Succumb to Addiction
When we think about addiction, we generally tend to picture someone who has reached “rock bottom.” Society’s image of the addict is generally a person whose affliction has taken everything away from them. Broken families, financial ruin, powerlessness, and homelessness are often the default image our minds conjure up when addiction and addicts are under discussion. But in reality, addicts exist in all walks of life, and their circumstances can be radically different from those we’ve mentioned. Our reflexive reaction to the word “addiction” is a result of the severe stigma that surrounds this health problem and is often a barrier to treatment for those who need it most. For "high-functioning addicts", the refusal to admit the severity of the problem can often exacerbate it. That’s why we’re taking a look at the unique challenges high-functioning, successful professionals with addictions face when they need help.
Denial
For many professionals, their identity as an individual is subsumed by their career. Your job may necessitate keeping your personal opinions, feelings, and fears to yourself. And these long-held habits can be a huge barrier to admitting to yourself or those around you that you have a problem and need help with solving it. For people in high-stress jobs who are used to facing significant challenges and dealing with heavy responsibilities, admitting that you’re powerless in the face of addiction is often the most difficult step to take.
Stress
In today’s society, it’s easy to become a workaholic. Smartphones and breakthroughs in communications technology can make it seem like you never really have time off. Many professionals begin to misuse substances as a way to de-stress, often self-medicating in order to fall asleep or blow off steam. But as an addiction develops, the tension of attempting to manage an unmanageable condition while also navigating difficult and exhausting situations at work can lead you into a downward spiral where both causes of stress feed off of each other.
Fear of Professional Disgrace
Doctors, lawyers, and those in the finance industry all have wide circles of acquaintance, and all of their jobs are built on maintaining the trust of their clients. When individuals working in these areas develop problems with substance abuse, they begin to live in fear of discovery, and a sense of living in isolation with a secret generally becomes pronounced. Even mentioning words like “treatment” and “addiction” to colleagues, clients, or supervisors could come with serious professional consequences. As a result, many high-functioning people working in prestigious jobs tend to suffer in silence until their situation becomes critical. In spite of their ample resources, professionals, like the vast majority of those suffering from substance abuse disorders, are highly unlikely to receive the treatment they need.
No Time For Self-Care
People in demanding industries and professions often have a lot of difficulty taking the time that their bodies and minds need to stay healthy. When you’re looking to break free from dependence on a substance, you’ll need time to allow yourself to heal and develop the strategies and skills needed to make recovery last. It’s crucial to remember that if you are a high-functioning person in need of physical, psychological, or spiritual care to deal with a substance use disorder, delaying treatment is almost certain to exacerbate the problem. There are options out there that can work for you, regardless of how busy your schedule is.
Burnout
Demanding schedules, the difficulties of managing other people, tension-filled situations, and a sense of fatigue all lead many high-powered people to burn-out in their careers. And vulnerability to substance abuse is one of the symptoms of this condition. If you’re suffering from burnout (common symptoms are exhaustion, a compromised immune system, depression, insomnia, and a sense of isolation) you may want to factor that in when evaluating your treatment options. It’s important to ask yourself whether substance misuse is the problem or merely a symptom. You may be in need of a facility that has experience and expertise in treating both conditions.
Find Solutions That Work For You!
One of the options you should consider is an Executive Rehab Center. These facilities are designed for high-functioning addicts and alcoholics to receive the treatment they need in a setting that allows them to experience a minimum of disruption in their professional lives. Many facilities offer amenities like conference rooms, access to computers, travel support, and firm commitments to maintaining privacy which is often vitally important to clients. They’ll be willing to work your commitments and professional needs into a custom treatment plan that allows you to stay in good standing at work while dealing with your issues. These treatment centers also generally offer a more luxurious experience than you would encounter at a run of the mill treatment center, often including swimming pools, exercise facilities, and catered meals as well as a more flexible schedule. They also tend to offer comprehensive out-patient services that could offer the support you need.
Many highly successful people with addiction issues opt to receive treatment abroad. One of the main reasons for this is the guarantee of privacy. You run little risk of running into someone you know from your professional life and are all but guaranteed to keep your personal life private. You also can tell your colleagues, clients, and supervisors that you’re taking a much-needed vacation, rather than dealing with a personal issue. In many instances, taking a break from the stresses which have led you into dependence on a substance will have a hugely beneficial effect on your attitude in treatment and the outcomes you achieve. Furthermore, you may gain access to some treatments, such as ibogaine therapy or NAD+, which may not be available in your home country.
High-functioning addicts face unique obstacles in treating their addiction issues, but they also have access to a broad range of facilities and services based on their financial resources, comprehensive insurance plans, and personal connections. If you’re looking for a way to end your addiction, we’d recommend spending the time to look at all of the treatment options that are available and reflecting on your individual needs. If you have any questions about our methods, services, or treatments, feel free to get in touch today!
4th January 2021
Rehab in Spain: Why Spanish Addicts Are Heading Abroad For Treatment
Spain’s drug problems have come in waves, and epidemics of heroin use, a flood of cocaine from South America, and the constant importation of hashish from nearby Morocco ensure that the country always has a steady supply of drugs. As the opioid crisis rages on, increasing numbers of Spaniards have been experimenting with and becoming addicted to, the same opioid-based pain pills that have devastated communities across the United States. Spain’s death rates from opioid-related overdoses have increased significantly over the past decade, and many experts fear that the problem is growing exponentially worse.
Spain’s rate of cocaine use overtook the USA a decade ago and remains very high, with an estimated 3% of adults in the country using the substance. In spite of the government’s record-breaking number of seizures, the country’s rugged 3000 km long coast makes it Europe’s gateway for smuggled cocaine from South America. Mexican cartels have long used Spain as the first stop on the journey of their products across Europe.
A recent Guardian article also highlighted the problems caused by “narcopisos,” apartments left vacant following the nation’s property crash, which have been overrun with drug dealers and users. In neighborhoods like Barcelona’s El Raval district, residents have seen their lives and communities turned upside down by rampant drug use and the problems it brings. According to the newspaper, “dealers use apps to help customers find the flats where drugs are available. They also tie colored cloths to balconies to signal availability: white for heroin available, blue meaning they are under police surveillance, and red for out of stock.”
The economic crisis has exacerbated Spain’s drug problem while draining the funding needed for measures to combat addiction. According to the head of a Madrid resident’s association, “you have to ask yourself what’s happened to all the preventative resources that existed in Madrid? They basically had the plug pulled during the economic crisis.” 39% of those entering treatment in Spain are primarily cocaine users, while 24% of those seeking to battle their addictions are habitual heroin users. And while the various levels of government support rehab in Spain, thanks to the economic crisis, funding has remained flat, raising wait times and leaving the average rehab in Spain overflowing with clients. If you’re a drug addict in Spain looking for solutions and a sense of hope, turning your gaze abroad may seem like the wisest approach.
Why Portugal?
Portugal was in the midst of an epidemic of heroin addiction (much like Spain’s heroin problem in the 1980s) when they made the dramatic decision to embrace the principles of harm-reduction and decriminalize the consumption of all drugs. As one of the architects behind Portugal’s new approach explains it: “We realized we were squandering resources. It made much more sense for us to treat drug addicts as patients who needed help, not as criminals.” By removing the threats of prosecution and incarceration, Portugal has reduced the stigma surrounding addiction, and the number of addicts receiving treatment has increased by 60% since 1998. The results the country has achieved simply by treating addicts with dignity and viewing addiction as a health issue has caused countries such as France, Switzerland, and Germany to embrace harm-reduction. Portugal’s clear-headed, compassionate approach to treating addiction makes it an ideal destination for those attempting to overcome substance-abuse problems.
Spain has embraced some of the principles of harm-reduction, particularly removing the threat of jail for drug possession. But the country still depends heavily on opioid replacement therapy, primarily using methadone, as a way to treat opioid addiction. While methadone can stabilize the lifestyles of addicts and prevent HIV, it leaves those seeking rehab in Spain dependent on a narcotic substance and does little to address the issues underlying addiction. If you’re looking to truly defeat your addiction, methadone likely isn’t the best option.
Some publicly funded options for rehab in Spain are available, and there are also privately run residential treatment facilities. These centers have the benefit of being close to home, but for Spaniards without substantial bank accounts, the cost of effective treatment in a comfortable setting can be staggering. Luxury private facilities have rates rising as high as 50,000 Euros per month! And if you’re looking for a publicly funded facility, you need to be prepared for wait times spanning weeks, or even months, before being placed in an overcrowded and under-funded treatment facility. The shortage of treatment beds and affordable facilities has pushed many addicts to the brink of despair.
In theory, seeking treatment at a rehab in Spain not put you at risk of stigma for being an addict in a society that views drug use very harshly. But if you’re living in a small community, word might still spread. If you’re looking to be treated with dignity and respect, experience compassionate care, and maintain your privacy, going abroad might be your best option. Drug addiction is still viewed harshly in many Spanish communities, with studies finding that addiction carries more stigma than mental illness. In many small towns, the addicted are still seen as criminals who have succumbed to a “moral failing” rather than sick people in need of medical treatment. If you’d prefer to be treated as a person, rather than a junkie, as you begin your recovery journey, you might want to consider seeking treatment in Portugal!
What Are The Benefits Of Treatment Abroad?
1)
Leaving an environment full of familiar stressors and temptations can have a beneficial effect on treatment, and Portugal is a great place to recover from the traumas related to addiction. It’s a picturesque country with a lovely Mediterranean climate. It’s dotted with quaint villages, ancient ruins, majestic castles, and miles of beautiful coastline. And there are few regions better suited to recovering your health than Portugal’s sun-drenched Alentejo region. A land of rolling hills and vast plains, the Alentejo offers visitors the opportunity to recover their health and connections to the natural world by riding horses, watching birds, stargazing, hiking, and cycling. Many Spanish visitors are especially appreciative of the temperate climate, peaceful lifestyle, and delicious regional fare, all while feeling at home with a climate, culture, and society that is familiar enough to feel welcome. All this, while enjoying a spain rehab center facility that rivals a luxurious resort or hotel for a fraction of the cost of treatment back home. You’ll disconnect from a toxic environment and share amazing new experiences with people from all around the world!
2) Privacy
While increasing numbers of people are coming to the understanding that addiction is a medical issue, there is still a significant social and professional stigma that comes with seeking treatment for substance abuse. If you head to Portugal, it’s easy to tell friends, family members, and colleagues that you’re off on a much-needed vacation and avoid awkward conversations and prying questions. There’s also no risk that someone will spot you emerging from a clinic or support group meeting and start whispering.
3) Promising Treatments Unavailable At Home
We’ve written a lot about the undeniable power of ayahuasca and iboga to combat the addictive properties of opioids and other drugs and to open the addicted mind to the idea of a positive transformation into sobriety. Because Portugal has decriminalized all drugs, promising treatments that cannot be obtained in a safe medical setting in Spain (due to their somewhat murky legal status) can be accessed here with the supervision of health-care professionals.
4) Easy Intake
When you’ve reached rock bottom, a treatment center that can quickly start the process of detox and recovery can be a lifesaver. The prospect of waiting months for the in-patient treatment you need can be a heart-breaking, motivation-sapping roadblock. Options for rehab in Spain are often underfunded, one of the main reasons why the majority of Spanish addicts are pushed into less intensive outpatient treatment programs and methadone maintenance. Treatment centers abroad can immediately start the intake process, allowing you to strike back at your addiction when you’re feeling hopeful and motivated. This can make all the difference in the world!
Iboga Tree Healing House
At Iboga Tree Healing House we have a unique ability to accommodate clients from around the world with our welcoming, open-minded, and international staff. You’d be hard-pressed to find a treatment center more committed to the safety of their clients than Iboga Tree Healing House. We’re also deeply committed to maintaining a supportive and non-judgmental environment for facilitating recovery and personal growth.
In addition to offering iboga therapy, we also provide a wide array of holistic treatments, including breathwork, kundalini yoga, equine-assisted therapy, kambo, and more. All of these practices are extremely beneficial for re-energizing both body and spirit to pursue recovery. In combination with our ten hectares of outdoor space, large terraces, and outdoor swimming pool, we let nature remind our clients to be grateful and receptive to new horizons and second chances. We have many testimonials from people around the globe who’ve benefited immeasurably from experiencing our treatments in beautiful, sunny Portugal. If you’d like to experience treatment abroad, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
6th November 2020 • Sticky Post
Understanding Psilocybin Therapy
The use of psychedelics in treating all manner of mental illnesses has been a hot topic in recent years. Scientists at prestigious institutions such as Johns Hopkins, New York University, the University of New Mexico, and Imperial College in London have conducted small but rigorous and controlled studies which have shown the immense potential of psilocybin therapy in dealing with depression, anxiety, and addiction. These studies have led to numerous books exploring the history and medical potential of psychedelics to change and heal the mind, most notably best-selling American author Michael Pollan’s “How To Change Your Mind.”
As momentum has built, a number of jurisdictions have decriminalized the cultivation and possession of psilocybin (the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms”), notably the major American cities of Oakland, California, and Denver, Colorado. 2020 will also see voters in Oregon and California decide on whether to legalize the substance throughout their states. Many psychologists, physicians, and people afflicted with mental illnesses are eager to take advantage of the benefits offered by this remarkable plant. As Mr. Pollan puts it:
a single psilocybin trip guided by trained professionals has the potential to relieve “existential distress” in cancer patients; break addictions to cigarettes, alcohol, and cocaine; and bring relief to people struggling with depression. Psychiatry’s current drugs for treating these disorders are limited in their effectiveness, often addictive, address only symptoms, and can come with serious side effects. Thus, the prospect of psychedelic medicine is raising hopes of a badly needed revolution in mental health care.
Psilocybin Treatment: The Process
Understanding Psilocybin Treatment
While there isn’t currently an established model for psilocybin treatment, most of the studies conducted thus far have patients use the substance in a controlled environment, supervised by a psychologist who guides them through the experience. The Imperial College study on depression offered patients a 25-milligram capsule of psilocybin, which is a substantial dose. They were placed in a room with a bed, surrounded with flowers and candles, and guided through traumas, significant past events, and formative memories.
A study at the University of New Mexico on psilocybin therapy for alcohol addiction offered participants four weeks of traditional psychotherapy, before giving them a dose of psilocybin in a quiet, comfortable room with male and female “co-therapists.” In this study, the therapists did little more than direct patients to “turn their attention inward” and go where their minds took them. This was followed by four more weeks of psychotherapy, another psilocybin session, and a final bout of traditional therapy.
As one participant noted, his experience wasn’t focused on his dependence on alcohol, but rather on the stresses, guilt, and happiness which his relationship with family members created. His recovery wasn’t motivated by a desire to avoid alcohol, but rather by the prospect of improving his relationships with loved ones. He reported being effortlessly abstinent for months afterward, before beginning to drink moderately once again but with “a conscientiousness he had never experienced with alcohol before.” Two years after the study his drinking remained under control, and he had repaired his marriage and relationships with his children.
Why is Psilocybin Treatment Effective?
Why is Psilocybin Treatment Effective?
While many countries are accelerating research into psilocybin therapy, no one is exactly sure why the treatment has proven to be so effective. Nonetheless, there are a number of compelling theories as to why it works. Serotonin is often cited as one possible key to the effects of psilocybin, as the substance causes “downregulation” of the serotonin system, which can result in reduced impulsivity and improved mood. But changes to serotonin typically last for just one week, so the longer-term benefits of the treatment must derive from a different source.
Michael Bogenschutz, the lead investigator in the University of New Mexico alcohol trial, posits the view that exposure to psychedelics and oneirogenics can create a phenomenon that mirrors the long-tail effects of PTSD. As he puts it:
"there's a whole process that happens when a toxic memory is seared into the brain. The only physical effect is probably light hitting the eyes. It's the meaning made of that memory, and the brain and body's reaction to the meaning, that can cause lasting damage. So if there are experiences that are so toxic and so horrible that they can cause physical and psychological damage, it's not a crazy idea that there are some experiences that are so positive, so beneficial that they can have a healing effect."
Other researchers point to the concept of “ego death” that has long been associated with psychedelics. Robin Carhartt-Harris, a researcher at Imperial College, notes that psilocybin reduces activity in the brain’s “default mode network”, a collection of brain regions and neurotransmitters that are believed to construct an independent self and place it at the center of perceptions and experiences. Psychedelics help individuals to pay less attention to the self, breaking down walls and facilitating connections. Since many depressed and addicted people are plagued with a deep and abiding sense of isolation from others, this can feel like a dramatic escape from a mental prison. Many of the participants in these studies reported that psilocybin dramatically reduced their sense of alienation.
Another theory is that the therapy increases neuroplasticity, changing and reshaping neurons in the brain. This remodeling of cells is the basis of all learning, and substances like psilocybin and iboga have been proven to improve neuroplasticity. Addiction, anxiety, trauma, and depression can create negative changes in brain chemistry, as the mind learns to take pleasure or stress from external cues. Psilocybin seems to help restore the brain to a pre-addicted state.
Psilocybin Treatment: Safety Concerns
Psilocybin Treatment: Safety Concerns
While psilocybin therapy has shown immense promise to heal mental wounds, we would strongly recommend restricting its use to a clinical setting. There are physical and psychological risks that go hand in hand with the benefits of psychedelic therapies, and in many jurisdictions, you can be arrested and incarcerated for use or possession of these substances. Michael Pollan notes that in all societies that used psychedelic substances, ranging from the Amazon to ancient Greece, they were always used with “deliberateness and care.” He writes that these substances “were not taken alone but usually in a group under the direction of an elder or shaman familiar with the mental territory, and they were used only on certain occasions, surrounded by ritual and with a clear intention. There was nothing casual about it.” All would be wise to maintain this level of caution as they experiment with their immense potential.
To find out more about what psilocybin therapy can do for you, contact us now!
17th June 2020
Post-Treatment Support: 3 Reasons it's Crucial
When you leave a treatment facility, you will almost certainly feel triumphant. You’ve conquered detox and withdrawals. You’ve faced down some demons and persevered. You’re ready for a wonderful new challenge, ready to find fulfillment in all the areas of your personal and professional life that you’ve neglected for too long. But it is a huge mistake to assume that you can conquer addiction in isolation. Almost everyone who succeeds in recovery needs support as they navigate life after addiction, and here’s why:
1) Life's Stressors
Post-Treatment Support: 3 Reasons it's Crucial
Your parents and teachers probably told you this long ago, and they told you for a reason. Addiction simplifies all of life’s problems, allowing the addict to substitute the worries and cares that most people deal with into one problem: how do I get more of the substance I need to function? After addiction, you are exchanging that one simple problem for a host of other concerns.
And life can be especially hard when you’re facing challenges that you have avoided for years. Most addicts emerge from treatment to find that their finances are a mess, their health has deteriorated, their professional prospects have changed for the worse, and their personal relationships are in dire need of attention and repair. It is easy to feel overwhelmed, and your mind has been conditioned to turn to a substance when faced with difficult situations and emotions.
This is why a sponsor, a peer-support group, or a counselor is fundamental to the recovery process. You’ll need encouragement and advice to get your finances in order, to make amends with the people you’ve wronged, to re-connect and repair relationships with loved ones, and to build healthy habits for your sober life. Someone experienced in the logistics of rebuilding lives destroyed by addiction can guide you through a process which will appear hopeless and impossibly daunting at first. You’ll need to learn how to live a responsible and productive life, and it’s almost impossible to learn without a teacher.
2) All It Takes is One Slip
All It Takes is One Slip
We tend to think differently of relapse when dealing with addiction than we do with “medical” diseases. But as with cancer in remission, the specter of relapse will always be looming behind you. Addicts suffer relapses at rates similar to those for “chronic medical illnesses” according to the National Institute for Health. While relapse doesn’t necessarily mean that treatment has failed, many addicts immediately return to their previous, self-destructive patterns of substance use and behaviour.
But relapse doesn’t happen in a single, disastrous moment. Addictions experts have broken relapse down into a series of stages. It begins with “emotional relapse”, where denial, isolating, bottling-up of emotions, and poor self-care put those in recovery in vulnerable positions. This is followed by “mental relapse”, which typically includes minimizing the damage caused by substance misuse, glamourizing past substance use, lying, bargaining with yourself, and creating scenarios where substance use would be acceptable. The final stage is “physical relapse”, where an addict begins using once again.
Because professionals and peers with experience of addiction are aware of this cycle and have dealt with these situations before, they are an absolutely invaluable resource for preventing relapse. A sponsor, counselor, or close friend who has been through these battles will recognize the signs of relapse in the stages leading to a physical relapse, and prod you back onto a healthy path. Having someone you trust and respect point out negative patterns in thought or behaviour can often be enough to keep you on the road to recovery. An NCBI review found that participation in peer-support programs led to higher rates of abstinence, greater satisfaction with treatment, and significant reductions in relapse rate.
3) People Need People
Over 2000 years ago, the Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote that “Man is, by nature, a social animal.” He argued that humans derive happiness and meaning from building connections with others, and that anyone who didn’t need others was “either a beast or a God”, something more or less than truly human. Modern philosophers have explored and challenged his ideas, but we think most would agree with his assertion that we need to interact with and care deeply about others in order to live meaningful lives.
Johann Hari, a journalist and thinker who has explored addiction in-depth, would certainly agree with the Greek. After studying the affliction, he concluded that addiction was based not on brain chemistry, but on an inability to connect with others. The Canadian psychologist Dr. Bruce Alexander conducted the seminal “Rat Park” study, an experiment which influenced Hari’s thinking. He offered morphine-laced water to rats that were isolated, and to others placed in environments with companions, toys, exercise equipment, and sexual partners. Alexander found that the isolated rats quickly became dependent on opiates, while the happy, socially fulfilled rats did not.
Why is this important for you? Post treatment, you’ll be particularly vulnerable to feelings of isolation. You’ll want to avoid many of your former friends and associates in order to stay sober, and it will take time to re-build meaningful connections with family and loved ones. Peer-support groups are a tremendous way to manufacture a sense of connection and belonging as you begin to build a sober life. Most groups are supportive and welcoming, and the encouragement, advice, and guidance they can offer will be invaluable.
At Iboga Tree Healing House, we recommend peer-support fellowships to anyone who’ll listen. Even if you’re put off by the 12 Step model, there are promising alternatives out there, such as Smart Recovery, which might work for you. We’ve even launched our own peer-support network tailored for those who’ve found sobriety through iboga therapy, which allows individuals around the world to come together for weekly video conferences. Recovery isn’t easy, and it’s even harder if you try to do it alone!
6th May 2020 • Sticky Post
Addiction Treatment During COVID-19: Is it Safe?
We are all currently struggling through the Covid-19 crisis together, but for those dealing with addiction, times are even harder. Those suffering from addiction and substance abuse are at greater risk to outside stressors, their health is likely already precarious, and in this time of profound uncertainty, the pressure on both individuals and the healthcare sector to provide care is at an all-time high. But addiction doesn’t stop in times like these, and the need for addiction treatment won’t lessen either. If you feel that the time has come to end your addiction, there are ways to get the help the addiction treatment you need. Let’s take a look at the ways Iboga Tree Healing House can help you find your path to health in the midst of the current "coronavirus" pandemic.
Inpatient Treatment Is Available!
At Iboga Tree Healing House, we are committed to keeping our doors open and refusing to give in to addiction. We have revised our intake protocols to keep our staff and clients safe, including respect for all national travel restrictions, a two week period of quarantine in Portugal prior to treatment, and 3 separate tests for the virus. We are committed to offering a refund to any potential client who tests positive for the virus, minus a 10% registration deposit.
You Are Safe With Us.
While many are understandably reluctant to leave their homes, let alone travel abroad for medical treatment, our staff has created a series of guidelines in concurrence with the Portuguese Directorate-General of Health in order to ensure your safety while accessing the most effective addiction treatment on the planet. We are also actively following and ready to implements any new guidelines or regulations issued by the CDC, the WHO, or any relevant national, state, or local regulatory bodies. A commitment to doing everything humanly possible to protect and improve the health of our clients is a foundational value at Iboga Tree Healing House, and we are focusing our efforts on doing all we can to provide safe treatment while the crisis rages.
We have always kept our facilities clean, and we have established new standards for both cleaning and sterilization to ensure that every surface, from doorknobs to computer keyboards, are disinfected throughout the day. Our entire staff has undergone medical training in order to deal with adverse events, monitor the health of our clients, and operate the necessary equipment. That training is now being put to use to screen for risks among incoming clients, and constantly monitor the health of those undergoing treatment. We have also temporarily suspended on-campus visits and events and shifted workers who aren’t absolutely needed for client care to work from home.
We will be vigilant in looking out for the symptoms of coronavirus: runny nose, dry cough, pressure in the chest, sore throat, fever, confusion, excessive blushing in the face and neck, difficulty breathing, and shortness of breath. If a client or staff member exhibits a fever of 100.4 or above, we will immediately isolate them and contact the local authorities to facilitate testing and treatment if necessary. Our emergency plans and procedures have already succeeded when tested before, and we stand ready to provide the safest, most effective treatment program possible during these uncertain times.
Online Is A Viable Option.
We understand that in spite of the precautions we are taking, many prospective clients will still struggle with the decision to seek treatment abroad. Therefore, we are ramping up our efforts to offer counseling and outpatient services, as well as pre- and after-care, online. Our Iboga Recovery Movement (IRM) meetings, which offer guidance and peer-support, have been increased to twice-weekly, and we will offer virtual family support meetings for all of our clients. All of our staff is ready to commit their time to helping you through the recovery process, whether you can come visit us or not. If you need to speak with us via phone, email, Zoom, Skype, or any other digital platform, let us know and we’ll do everything we can to be there with you.
Implications Of Covid-19 For Addiction And Mental Health
For those dealing with substance abuse issues, mental health issues, or dual diagnosis, this crisis is especially scary. For those dealing with addiction to opioids, the slowed breathing and lack of oxygen to the brain caused by these substances substantially increases the risk of complications to any respiratory ailment. Methamphetamine abuse has also been highlighted as a risk factor by the CDC because it often leads to pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary damage as it constricts blood vessels in the lungs. Furthermore, those addicted to any substance are far more likely than the general population to have compromised immune systems, lack of access to the health-care system, and to put themselves into environments where close contact with others puts them at a higher risk for infection. While pursuing treatment at a time like this does come with some risks, continuing to abuse substances is probably not a healthier alternative.
Lockdown, social distancing, self-isolating, loss of livelihood, and the constant assault of anxiety-inducing news reports are taking their toll on those previously in good mental health. Forbes magazine has reported that half of all Americans are reporting that the crisis has had a negative impact on their mental health. For those with pre-existing conditions such as depression and bipolar disorder, these negative effects can be even more severe, as routines and behaviors that maintain good mental-health become impossible. As CBS News has noted, significant global events and disasters can trigger very severe symptoms in the afflicted. Even during this pandemic, no one should be afraid to get the help they need.
We’re Here If You Need Us
Addiction, mental illness, and Covid-19 are all severe, potentially fatal, threats to your health. All of them need to be taken extremely seriously, and we don’t recommend taking action until you have explored the consequences and risks of those actions thoroughly. But if you are convinced that now is the time to end your addiction or deal with mental health issues, we are committed to providing you with the treatment you need. Whether you are looking for answers to your questions, online counselling, or in-patient treatment, we at Iboga Tree Healing House are committed to being here to serve you throughout this unprecedented global crisis. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.
31st March 2020 • Sticky Post
Eating Disorder Treatment: How Can Iboga Help You?
Most discussions of eating disorders tend to focus on positive and negative body images, the fashion industry, and an obsession with weight loss. But the renowned physician Dr. Gabor Mate would argue that eating disorders fall into the realm of addiction. As he puts it; “I have never met an anorexic or bulimic who was not a traumatized person…a person who is desperately trying to exert some control over themselves.”
Are Eating Disorders an Addiction?
Dr. Mate’s fascinating philosophy of addiction posits that all addictions have their roots in early childhood experience, as our nervous and hormonal systems find ways to adapt to stress, wiring our brains’ developing systems of desire and reward in certain specific ways. Those with eating disorders are seeking either a sense of pleasure or an escape from inner pain through their relationship with food, in the same manner, and with the same mental processes and responses as a heroin addict seeks release through the drug. For more detail on Dr. Mate’s beliefs on emotional eating and addiction, we recommend this lecture.
If we accept that eating disorders are an addiction, we need to view their treatment through a different lens. The addicted brain has significant differences in its circuitry than a healthy brain. The systems which regulate the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that controls the body’s reward system, essentially stop producing pleasure except when triggered by the addictive substance. As our understanding of neurology has grown, we have learned that addiction hardwires certain behaviors into our minds. The addicted brain develops different responses to stress, anxiety, and substances of abuse than the healthy brain. The neurotransmitters and receptors which govern pain and pleasure take proteins from other neurons to create pathways that respond only to the presence or absence of a drug. Scientific studies have shown abnormalities in the neural processes of anorexics that aren’t dissimilar to addiction. And like addicts, those suffering from anorexia demonstrate an inability to alter their eating habits, even after expressing the desire to change.
American Addiction Centers uses the analogy of a hiking trail to explain the concepts of neural pathways and neuroplasticity: “ brains form neural pathways in a way that is similar to the formation of a well-traveled hiking trail. The more we travel a path, the faster, easier, and more familiar that path becomes. As we travel it more and more, it becomes wider, smoother, and easier to travel. It becomes a preferred route.” We can expand on this analogy in regard to the recovery process. As you learn to live a healthy life, you are essentially carving out a new path in a dense forest. The going will be slow, and the work will be hard, but each time your brain returns to this new trail, the journey will be smoother than the previous one. Every decision which supports your new lifestyle will be easier than the one before. Battling addiction is never easy, and it requires tremendous effort and strength, but promising alternative treatments can give you the push you need to start blazing a new trail!
How Iboga Can Help
Iboga is a powerful, oneirogenic (meaning that it produces a waking dream state), plant-based medicine. It comes from the tabernanthe iboga plant which grows in West Africa and is an essential part of that region’s Bwiti spiritual traditions. Iboga has shown great promise in treating addiction and chemical dependence because of its ability to counter the withdrawal symptoms and cravings of heroin and opioid addiction with a single dose. But its benefits aren’t limited to those battling substance abuse.
Iboga has been proven to increase levels of GDNF, a protein that is produced by the brain in early childhood. GDNF is a fundamentally important protein for personal development because it rapidly increases the production of new neurons and allows for increased neuroplasticity. This is why childhood is the best time for people to learn new languages, figure out how to play musical instruments, and experiment with new habits and ideas. GDNF also helps to regulate responses to drugs of abuse and dopamine receptors in the brain and is extremely beneficial for creating and sustaining new habits and patterns of decision making and behavior.
For those suffering from eating disorders, GDNF has the potential to dramatically impact treatment outcomes. Its ability to create new ways of looking at the world, and neural pathways which respond to stress, pain, control, and pleasure in different ways can make all the difference in developing a healthy relationship with food, and escaping the cycle of emotional eating.
Next steps
Iboga isn’t a miracle cure for eating disorders or drug abuse, but the 3-6 month window following treatment offers you a window of time in which you will see the world differently, and gain the ability to develop healthy new habits. The way you think about life and analyze your environment will change perceptibly, and you’ll be receptive to changes and ideas that could literally save your life! At Iboga Tree Healing House, we’re committed to exploring the potential of ibogaine to reclaim lives devastated by eating disorders, and if you have any questions, we’d be more than happy to discuss them with you!
