Up to $4.9 million for ibogaine studies: Watch Trump administration officials announce PTSD research funding for psychedelic drug

Funding prepares research groundwork

Kennedy said his department would award up to $4.9 million to lay the groundwork for studying ibogaine as a PTSD treatment. The funding will support work on producing the drug, determining doses and designing studies, rather than patient research.

Drug carries serious risks

Ibogaine comes from a shrub native to West Africa and remains illegal in the United States. It is classified with LSD, ecstasy and most other psychedelic drugs under the same highly restrictive category.

The drug can trigger intense hallucinations, nausea, vomiting and tremors, as well as sometimes-fatal irregular heart rhythms. Clinics commonly charge $10,000 to $20,000 for a treatment course, which often includes heart monitoring and emergency medical workers on standby.

Veterans and officials weigh promise

Veterans’ groups and psychedelic advocates say ibogaine could help with difficult-to-treat PTSD, severe depression and opioid addiction. U.S. research has been largely stalled for decades because of the drug’s restricted status; much of the limited evidence comes from people treated in Mexico and other countries.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins said the effort would begin with safety and high-quality research. He said veterans with PTSD deserved both urgency and the strongest science available. Kennedy and Collins have previously pointed to veterans’ experiences with ibogaine and other psychedelics abroad.

Trump order broadens review

The funding announcement had been previewed in April, when Trump signed an order directing federal agencies to accelerate review and research on psychedelics that might help mental health conditions. The order followed Joe Rogan’s account that he texted Trump about ibogaine and received a supportive response about seeking FDA approval.

Three psychedelic applications are awaiting FDA review, including potential medicines made from psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, and MDMA, also known as ecstasy. Decisions could come within weeks or months.