The Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) has entered into an agreement that could see it providing facilities and services tapping a promising new plant-based treatment for drug addiction.
This could see the establishment of a medicalized ibogaine-centred detox clinic and holistic aftercare treatment centre.
Mike Campol, COO of the Osoyoos Indian Band Development Corporation told the Times-Chronicle that the for-profit facility would be on Osoyoos Indian Band reserve land, but that a precise location had not yet been determined.
The agreement was formalized through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the OIB Development Corporation and Toronto Stock Exchange-listed, life sciences company Universal Ibogaine, Inc.
Chief Ian Campbell of the Squamish Nation and UI Board Chair said the primary focus for Universal Ibogaine is to “bring this life-saving medicine to those who need it as quickly as possible.”
The announcement came a day after the release of the B.C. Coroners Service report on Wednesday, indicating 2,224 people died from suspected illicit drug overdose in 2021 — the highest-ever annual tally and a 26 per cent increase over the number of deaths in 2020.
The iboga shrub grows in the rainforests of West Africa from Cameroon to the Congo. Marco Schmidt photo on Wikipedia.
The partners said they will act as “collaborators” in bridging economic and social models that respect Indigenous ways while leveraging Western scientific practices.
“We see this as being aligned with the values of the OIB as far as understanding the importance of fighting the opioid epidemic and knowing that traditional treatment has not really brought the numbers down, in fact, the numbers have increased,” Campol noted.
“The opioid epidemic is a public health emergency. We have to do better than opioid substitution therapy. What we have here is an opportunity to be part of a transformation in the way that society treats those who suffer, views plant medicine, and understands indigenous culture. We are pleased to see where this collaboration can take us,” he added.
Ibogaine is a naturally occurring psychoactive substance extracted from the roots of a shrub called iboga which grows in West Africa from Cameroon to the Congo.
The development timeline will coincide with the planned Health Canada approval process of the Universal Ibogaine treatment protocol. The company is currently preparing for clinical trials after signing up contract research partners it said on Jan. 14.
“We are pleased with the opportunity to partner on this venture and bring opportunities for economic inclusion and deep healing for many people to our lands,” said Chief Clarence Louie of the Osoyoos Indian Band.
Nick Karos, recently appointed CEO of Universal Ibogaine said the company was looking forward to developing a relationship with its new partner.
“The Osoyoos Indian Band is one of the most proactive and forward-looking groups we have had the opportunity to engage with. We have a big job ahead, and partners like Osoyoos Indian Band add huge credibility to our mission and can aid in diversifying our business opportunities and the planned ultimate deployment of the ibogaine addiction treatment protocol”.
A 2017 clinical study in New Zealand where ibogaine is legally available showed that a single ibogaine treatment reduced opioid withdrawal symptoms and achieved opioid cessation or sustained reduced use in dependent individuals measured over 12 months.
For centuries, the root of the Iboga has been used in medicinal and ritual preparations in the personal quest for knowledge and inner power, according to the spiritual traditions of the Bwiti of Gabon.
The Nganga African tribe traditionally uses iboga to treat mental illnesses including depression, anxiety, and even schizophrenia.
