(NewsNation) — Texas state government is helping to bankroll research into the mind-altering psychedelic known as ibogaine, and former three-term Gov. Rick Perry is getting credit for raising the profile of the illegal drug as a potential therapy for addiction and other brain disorders.
The socially conservative Republican, who was energy secretary during President Trump’s first term, recently told The New York Times about his experience getting ibogaine treatment in Mexico. The 75-year-old Perry said the therapy in 2023 triggered temporary sickness and hallucinations — complete with a perceived encounter with Satan — before he recovered feeling clear-headed and calm a day later.
Perry had long suffered from anxiety and insomnia that he suggests was tied to severe concussions he suffered as a youth. He said he became interested in ibogaine after a former staff member and combat veteran reported successful results after going through treatment.
What is ibogaine?
Now, he’s emerged as a prominent advocate for ibogaine, which is derived from a plant root that grows in Central Africa. Proponents say research and anecdotal information suggest the drug holds promise in treating a range of neurological issues such as traumatic brain injury, addiction, dementia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression.
But even supporters of the drug agree guardrails are a good idea. Ibogaine is considered potentially dangerous because it can slow the heart and cause seizures, the aforementioned hallucinations, and other side effects.
It’s also outlawed in the U.S. The federal government classifies ibogaine as a Schedule 1 drug alongside heroin, marijuana, and LSD, in part because it has no accepted medical use.
Yet, that is. The Republican-controlled Texas Legislature earlier this year approved a bill offering matching funds for USDA clinical trials. In signing the measure, Gov. Greg Abbott stressed his intent was to help veterans who may wrestle with psychological problems.
“Texas will now lead the way in America for the evaluation of ibogaine as a potential medication that can help improve the lives of so many veterans,” Abbott said.
Mind-altering substances get second look
Observers consider it an interesting development, given that Texas government has long been known for its hardline stance against illegal drugs. Although the state has a medical marijuana program, recreational cannabis is not allowed (in his waning days as governor, Perry favored decriminalizing weed and said states should be allowed to decide whether to legalize cannabis).
The Texas two-step with ibogaine comes amid a recent wider acceptance for psychoactive substances, including psilocybin or “magic” mushrooms, as potential therapies.