Texas Invests $50M in Psychedelic Drug Research to Treat Addiction

MONDAY, June 16, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Texas has moved to fund research into ibogaine, a psychedelic drug that may help treat addiction, depression and brain injuries.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill last week approving $50 million in state funds for ibogaine research, The New York Times reported.

The goal is to support clinical trials and bring in another $50 million in private investment to help ibogaine win approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The process could take years.

Ibogaine is made from the root of a plant found in Africa. It has been banned in the U.S. since the 1960s, but many experts say it could help people who have not responded to other treatments.

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry said problems affecting military veterans helped persuade conservative lawmakers to support the measure.

“From a political standpoint, veterans are a very appreciated population,” said Perry, a U.S. Air Force veteran and the measure’s most prominent supporter.

“If we had said we’re going to do this for the homeless or the prison population, the Legislature might not have been as willing to get on board,” he added.

The law directs Texas universities and hospitals to lead the research. It also makes sure the state keeps a share in future profits if the drug is approved.

This is “the Manhattan Project of our time,” said Bryan Hubbard, who leads the nonprofit Americans for Ibogaine. He has been pushing for similar programs in at least 20 states, The Times reported.

Ibogaine is a psychedelic that causes powerful hallucinations and can last for hours. Some studies suggest it may help people stop using opioids or other drugs, even after just one session.

In Brazil, the therapy has helped thousands. A 2024 study published in the journal Nature Medicine found that military veterans with brain injuries saw major mental and physical improvements after just one ibogaine session.

Researchers believe ibogaine helps rewire the brain by encouraging it to grow new neurons and promote neuroplasticity. That’s the brain’s ability to reorganize and adapt throughout life.

“We are cautiously optimistic that ibogaine could be the first drug to rehab people with traumatic brain injury,” said Dr. Nolan Williams, director of Stanford University’s Brain Stimulation Lab, who led the Nature Medicine study.

Ibogaine can be dangerous for people with heart problems. But experts say the risks can be lowered through heart screenings, close monitoring and giving magnesium before and during treatment, The Times added in its report.

Because ibogaine is natural and can’t be patented, many drug companies have not invested in it. But some are working on lab-made versions that could possibly be safer.

One such company, Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals, got a $14 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse last year to study its version — one without heart risks.