#13 - Deborah Mash: The Lioness of Ibogaine Research

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.

Relevant Links:

• Dr. Mash’s research: Breaking the cycle of opioid use disorder with Ibogaine (2017)
• Noribogaine is a G-protein biased κ-opioid receptor agonist (2015
• Medication Development of Ibogaine as a Pharmacotherapy for Drug Dependence (2006)
• Ibogaine: Complex Pharmacokinetics, Concerns for Safety, and Preliminary Efficacy Measures (2006)
• Identification of a primary metabolite of ibogaine that targets serotonin transporters and elevates serotonin (1995)
• Dr. Mash’s company, DemeRx
• 1996 Interview with Dr. Deborah Mash (archived)
• Dr. Mash’s Twitter