A psychedelic that’s illegal in the U.S. is showing promise for treating everything from traumatic brain injuries to opioid addiction. NBC 7’s Catherine Garcia visited a clinic in Mexico that’s offering the treatment and spoke to a veteran who says it saved his life.
There is a growing movement to study and eventually legalize a powerful, plant-based psychedelic called ibogaine, which early research suggests could help treat traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorders and other mental health conditions.
Because ibogaine remains illegal in the United States, many seeking relief are traveling to Mexico, where clinics like Ambio Life Sciences legally offer the treatment. Among them are U.S. military veterans, often supported by a San Diego nonprofit called VETS, which helps cover the cost for those turning to ibogaine.
In a landmark July 2025 study published in Nature Mental Health, Stanford University researchers followed 30 service members who underwent ibogaine treatment in Mexico. They found that when combined with magnesium to protect the heart, ibogaine significantly and safely reduced PTSD, anxiety and depression symptoms while improving overall functioning in veterans with traumatic brain injuries.
Veterans have also helped drive policy change in Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law in the summer of 2025 authorizing the nation’s first Food and Drug Administration-approved clinical trial of ibogaine. The study aims to evaluate its potential as a treatment for opioid use disorder and other behavioral health conditions.
In this special report, NBC 7 takes you inside the promise, the potential risks and the deeply personal journeys of those undergoing ibogaine treatment.