For years, iboga has been praised as a revolutionary solution for addiction and withdrawal. The West has embraced this African plant-based substance as a cure for painless and swift detox, leading many to question its validity.
David Graham Scott’s 2004 film, “Detox or Die,” sheds light on the effectiveness of iboga. The documentary follows the journey of addicts undergoing a long night of psychedelic detox, watched by experienced iboga practitioners. However, the film takes a shocking turn as one client collapses, ending up on life-support, and the iboga provider is jailed.
This prompts David to question the safety of iboga treatment and raises the question of whether this quick fix is truly the solution for addiction. The film concludes with a nerve-wracking iboga session in London with David himself administering the treatment.
While iboga has been used for centuries in African religious ceremonies, its use in the West is still controversial. The film uncovers the complexities surrounding iboga treatment and prompts audiences to question its validity.