Mississippi is in a unique position to be able to set a precedent for the South, and even the entire nation. It can lead them on establishing standardized evidence-based care that saves lives.
Rep. Sam J. Creekmore IV is Chairman, Mississippi House Public Health and Human Services Committee
The Mississippi Legislature is holding a hearing on August 28, at 10 am, to examine the potential clinical benefits of ibogaine as a treatment for addictions and PTSD. The exploration of promising treatments is an important step in the commitment we have made to do more than just discuss and talk about our veteran’s crisis. We want to act on it.
Each year, Mississippi veterans come home with invisible injuries: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), chronic pain and addiction. Instead of healing them, too often they are sedated.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) spends almost $1 billion a year on pain and psychiatric medications. These are commonly referred to as “combat cocktail.” The regimens are often overlapping antidepressants and antipsychotics as well as benzodiazepines (benzodiazepine), opioids (opioids), sleep aids.
Recent Wall Street Journal investigation revealed tragic results of such an approach. This article described how complex drug combinations are prescribed to veterans, which often dull cognition or compound mental challenges. Rather than reduce risk, they may even increase suicide. One in three veterans suffering from PTSD is prescribed five or six psychiatric medications at the same time, without any meaningful improvements in their outcomes.
It’s not healing. It’s dependency.
Instead of restoring the quality life, this overdose on pharmaceuticals fuels a crisis that worsens: Each year more than 6,500 veterans commit suicide. Untold numbers of others also suffer silently, caught between failing drug regiments and lack real alternatives.
There is much more to this than medical malpractice. We can correct this policy error.
The path to progress begins with ibogaine. This plant-derived substance has incredible potential when it comes to treating opioid addictions, PTSD or trauma-related disorders. In supervised clinical settings abroad, ibogaine treatment shows short-term success rates up to 80 percent and long-term rates of 50–70 percent results far superior to what current therapies offer.
It’s more than just a few anecdotes.
Stanford University School of Medicine released a ground-breaking study in 2024 that followed U.S. Special Operations Veterans.
After a single ibogaine dose, the study documented “large and rapid reductions in PTSD, depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts”.
Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions has provided ibogaine outside the U.S. to more than 1,300 U.S. Veterans. Marcus Capone of VETS, a Navy SEAL co-founder said: “Ibogaine is what saved my own life.” “I tried everything I could find in the U.S.” “Nothing worked before this.”
To find healing, our veterans shouldn’t be forced to flee the country or violate the law. The veterans shouldn’t be forced to choose between suicide or silence.
This is also true for the general public. Mississippians are expected to die from overdoses of opioids at a rate of 556 per 100,000 in 2021. This is 71%. Between 2019 and 2021, the rate of overdoses among those under 35 years old increased by 158%. Both in terms of lives lost and dollar costs, the cost to our State is enormous. Each life lost in a tragic event, and each dollar wasted without impact on the world is an example of a failed policy.
But conventional treatments still fail. Nationally, relapse rates for opioid addiction remain between 60–90 percent within one year. We offer imprisonment instead of innovation. In place of healing we offer prescriptions. This is not sustainable and it’s unconscionable.
Conservative principles are needed.
Public-private partnership innovation, individual liberty, limited government and fiscal responsibility are values we hold dear. The support of ibogaine is a way to honor each one of these values.
Mississippi is in the unique position to be a leader for the South, and even the entire nation.
Look at Texas. In 2025, on June 11th, the Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2308 allocating 50 million dollars in state funds to ibogaine trials. Texas has formed a consortium with universities, biotech firms and hospitals. They retain the rights to all treatments. 25 percent of the royalties are donated to veteran programs.
It is a new collaboration. It’s bold. This is how leadership should look.
Mississippi should follow suit. The same should be done in Mississippi.
- Support the ibogaine trials in collaboration with health systems and universities;
- Reclassify ibogaine in federal classification to enable research and treatment.
- Veterans and civilians who have treatment resistant conditions can now access the Right to Try program.
- For those with addiction, reject the false binary that says prison or pill pills.
Already, we passed the Right to Try Law for patients with terminal illnesses. We believe in the freedom of cancer. If so, then we must offer that same dignity and option to people fighting PTSD or addiction.
It is impossible to continue with the current system. $1 billion spent on drug cocktail, and tens thousands of suicides. We must and can do better.
Be bold. Let’s lead. Let’s lead.
Join us August 28. Join us on August 28.
Rep. Sam J. Creekmore IV is the chairman of Mississippi House Public Health and Human Services Committee.
Image courtesy Flickr/Scamperdale