Bryan Hubbard, Chair and Executive Director of the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission (KYOAAC), has announced a public hearing and general information session to discuss a proposal for $42 million in funding over six years for research into ibogaine, a naturally occurring substance, as a potential treatment for Opioid Use Disorder.
The hearing is scheduled for Monday, July 17, 2023.
The proposed funding is part of the settlement from opioid manufacturers and distributors, who are to pay a total of $842 million for their role in exacerbating the deadly opioid crisis.
KYOAAC is tasked with the distribution of half these funds, which equates to approximately $421 million.
The money is set to be used for delivering therapeutic, interventional, and recovery services to individuals, families, and communities severely affected by the state’s opioid addiction crisis.
This ibogaine hearing comes at a crucial time, with the opioid crisis continuing to ravage communities across Kentucky.
If approved, this significant financial commitment could kickstart a new era of addiction research and treatment, potentially providing new hope for those struggling with Opioid Use Disorder.
A panel of expert researchers and clinicians will join the Commission at the hearing.
They will offer insights into the current scientific data and ongoing research related to ibogaine therapy as a potential addiction treatment.
The panel will also discuss the associated risks and benefits of ibogaine, its legal status, and how it compares to the success rates of other currently available treatment methods in the state.
These discussions regarding ibogaine promise to be pivotal for future opioid addiction treatments, and could potentially change the landscape of addiction recovery in Kentucky and potentially beyond.
This hearing represents an important milestone in the state’s ongoing battle against the opioid epidemic, and a crucial step towards developing more effective strategies for combatting this devastating health crisis.
