Requires the office of addiction services and supports to encourage, aid, and facilitate clinical research into the use of ibogaine in drug treatment for heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine addiction.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A1522
SPONSOR: Weprin TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to requiring the
office of addiction services and supports to encourage, aid, and facili-
tate clinical research into the use of ibogaine in drug treatment
PURPOSE::
To encourage and fund clinical research examining Ibogaine as a possible
pharmacotherapy that would suppress the craving for cocaine, methamphe-
tamine, and heroin quickly and at a lower cost than current treatment
methods.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::
The bill amends section 19.07 of the Mental Hygiene Law and requires the
Division of Substance Abuse Services to encourage, aid, and facilitate
clinical research into the use of Ibogaine in drug treatment.
RATIONALE:
Like many other states, New York has seen significant impact from the
current heroin and cocaine epidemic in America. Among the most promising
treatments in development is Ibogaine, a medication derived from an
African botanical which has been shown to eliminate narcotic withdrawal
and interrupt self-administration of drugs of abuse.
Over the past 20 years, thousands of American addicts have traveled to
Mexican clinics for treatment with Ibogaine. Returning addicts report
they experienced no withdrawal symptoms and that cravings to use drugs
were absent. Dr. Kenneth Alper of New York University reported the emer-
gence of Ibogaine as a part of a growing medical subculture. (Journal
of Ethno-Pharmacology, 115: pp 924).
JUSTIFICATION::
New York researchers have taken the lead in conducting research evaluat-
ing Ibogaine. The Chairman of the Department of Pharmacology of Albany
Medical College, Dr. Stanley Glick, reported that Ibogaine eliminated
acute signs of opiate withdrawal in the animal model (Neuropharmacology
31: 5 pp. 497-500). He further reported that it also interrupted self-
administration of morphine (European Journal of Pharmacology, 195:pp
341-345) as well as cocaine self-administration (Brain Research, 657: pp
14-22).
Dr. Henry Sershen of the Nathan Klein Institute of Psychiatric Research
in Orangeburg, NY reported that Ibogaine reduces preference for cocaine
consumption (Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 46:pp 942-948).
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1522
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 10, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN, DAVILA, K. BROWN -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to requiring the
office of addiction services and supports to encourage, aid, and
facilitate clinical research into the use of ibogaine in drug treat-
ment
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 19.07 of the mental hygiene law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision (o) to read as follows:
3 (o) The office of addiction services and supports shall encourage,
4 aid, and facilitate clinical research into the use of ibogaine in drug
5 treatment for heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine addiction.
6 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03714-01-5
