NFL & UFC Veterans Turn to Ibogaine in Mexico for Potential Brain Injury Treatment
TIJUANA,MEXICO โ- A growing number of retired NFL and UFC athletes are โขseeking treatment with ibogaine,a psychedelic substance,at clinics in Mexico,hoping to address lingering effects of brain injuries sustained during theirโ careers. The trend, highlighted by recent reports, comes as research into ibogaine’s potential therapeutic benefitsโ gains โฃmomentum in the United States, with several states now โinvesting in clinical โขtrials.
Among those who have reportedly received treatment at the Ambioโฃ Life Sciences clinic in Tijuana are NFL Hall of Fame quarterback โขBrett Favre, and also former athletes Jarret Gallery, Marian Hemsky,โ Scott Fletcher, and Din Thomas. The clinic has become a destination for ibogaine โtherapy, administering the substance to over 3,000 patients since 2021, including approximately 1,000 military veterans.
Ibogaine โฃis being explored for its potential to address neurological conditions and addiction, though its use remains largely unregulated.โ Expertsโ caution against โseeking treatment outside of controlled clinical settings.
“I wouldโ not advise that Americans order ibogaine online or travel outside the countryโ for treatment, as โit remains unregulated, with limited research,” said Dr. Ramon Diaz-Arrastia,โ a professor at โคPenn Medicine. UCLA professor โDr. Charles โBickart echoed these concerns, emphasizing safety: โ”People should โฃbe wary of โขany unregulated treatments, as the purity dosage andโ presence of contaminants are frequently enough unknown.”
Ambio stresses its โsafety protocols, including closeโข monitoring of dosage and cardiac health. The clinic is currently theโ subject of an observational study by Stanford researchers investigating ibogaine’s effects.
The growing interest in ibogaine is reflected inโข recent state-level funding initiatives. in June, Texas approved a $50-million investment to support drug development trialsโค for ibogaine, spurred โby positive outcomes observed in veterans. Arizona legislators allocated $5 millionโ for a clinical studyโข in March, and California lawmakers are considering measures to fast-track research into ibogaine andโฃ other โpsychedelics.
“Honestly,I’m amazed to see how much interest there is in ibogaine now,” said Ambio co-founder Jonathan Dickinson. “We’re starting to see things that we would have thought were unimaginable several years ago.”