Veterans & National Security · Report · File No. 261112-735
Kennedy and Collins announce $4.9 million to prepare first U.S. ibogaine PTSD studies
The Trump administration is funding groundwork for U.S. research on ibogaine, an illegal psychedelic that some veterans back for PTSD. The money does not pay for patient studies yet, and the drug carries serious heart risks.
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Federal officials announced new funding on Thursday to explore the medical potential of ibogaine, a psychedelic drug championed by veterans, conservative lawmakers and podcasters aligned with President Donald Trump 1. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said his department is awarding up to $4.9 million 1.
The money is meant to prepare for the first U.S. studies of ibogaine for post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. The condition is hard to treat and is linked to higher suicide and substance abuse rates among veterans 1.
What the money does and does not do
Kennedy said the funds will not go directly to patient research 1. They will pay for the groundwork needed to manufacture the drug, set doses and design studies 1.
Kennedy said the government will receive data and treatment guidance from Beond Inc., a Texas-based company that has treated more than 3,000 patients with ibogaine in Mexico, where the drug is not illegal 1. He said more awards may explore ibogaine for addiction 1.
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That is going to allow us to dramatically accelerate the clinical trial process,
Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins joined Kennedy and said the effort would focus first on safety and "best-in-class research" 1.
For veterans living with PTSD, we owe them both urgency and the best science we can produce,
A drug with real risks
Ibogaine is made from a shrub native to West Africa. It can cause intense hallucinations, nausea, vomiting and tremors, and sometimes deadly irregular heart rhythms 1. It is currently illegal, in the same ultra-restrictive class as LSD and ecstasy 1.
Because of that status, U.S. research on the drug has essentially been frozen for decades 1. Much of the little data that exists comes from patients who traveled to Mexico or other countries. Clinics there typically charge $10,000 to $20,000 for one course of treatment, which often includes heart monitoring with emergency medical workers on standby 1.
How we got here
Trump signed an executive order in April directing agencies to speed up review and research of psychedelics that could help with mental health conditions 1. It followed podcaster Joe Rogan saying he texted Trump about ibogaine. Rogan said the president replied, "Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let's do it." 1
On Oct. 5, Reuters reported that the Food and Drug Administration opened a public docket seeking comment on safety rules for ibogaine studies. The comment deadline is Nov. 20 2. Reuters reported that the April order dedicated $50 million to early-stage trials for opioid addiction and PTSD 2.
Separately, three psychedelic applications are pending at the FDA, including the first possible medicines made from psilocybin and MDMA. Decisions could come within weeks or months 1.
Why it matters
That matters because veterans with PTSD have few good options, and many are looking abroad for help. A federally supervised path would put safety data in the open instead of leaving it to private clinics overseas.
The caution is just as plain. Kennedy predicted a "record drug approval process," but ibogaine's heart risks are why research has moved more slowly than for other psychedelics 1. The announcement is a first step toward trials. It is not an approved treatment, and no patient studies have started.
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Sources
- AP via PBS NewsHour, “WATCH: Trump administration officials announce PTSD research funding for psychedelic drug ibogaine” (2026-11-12). pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-trump-administration-officia
- Reuters via KFGO, “US advances first government-funded trials of psychedelic drug ibogaine” (2026-10-05). kfgo.com/2026/10/05/us-advances-first-government-funded-tria
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