Skip to main content
Nekawa

Ibogaine Treatment for United States Residents

Ibogaine is not legally available for clinical treatment in the United States. Americans seeking medically supervised ibogaine travel to Brazil, where treatment takes place with medical oversight, through Nekawa's wellness education program on the Costa Verde.

Nekawa supports Americans across all 50 states and the District of Columbia with nature-based preparation and integration. Medical care connected to the program is provided by licensed medical professionals under their own licenses. Nekawa is a wellness and education program and does not provide medical services or sell or dispense ibogaine.

Select your state below for local legal context, or jump to a city guide where available.

We publish detailed city guides for major U.S. metros — each covers travel logistics, local legal context, and what residents should know before booking a discovery call.

Book a discovery call

Is ibogaine legal in United States?

Ibogaine is a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States; treatment is not legally available anywhere in the country.

Under the federal Controlled Substances Act, ibogaine is Schedule I in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. No clinic in the United States can legally administer ibogaine treatment.

On April 18, 2026, a federal Executive Order directed a coordinated effort to prioritize ibogaine research, accelerate clinical development, and modernize regulatory pathways for emerging therapies, with a specific focus on Veterans. The order does not change ibogaine's Schedule I status or create a regulated treatment pathway inside the United States.

Several states have moved on ibogaine-related policy at the state level. Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed SB 2308 in June 2025, creating a $50M fund for FDA clinical trials; in April 2026 the Texas Health and Human Services Commission awarded that fund to UTHealth Houston and UTMB Galveston for the IMPACT consortium. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1103 in October 2025, streamlining state approval for federally authorized Schedule I research through December 2027. New York has multiple pending research bills (including S1817/A1522 and A9583) as of April 2026. Americans for Ibogaine tracks 18 U.S. states with active ibogaine-relevant legislation.

None of this state-level activity creates a legal treatment pathway for U.S. residents. Research funds and research-enabling bills support FDA clinical trials — not clinic access. The medically supervised option for Americans remains Brazil, where ibogaine treatment takes place with medical oversight.

In Brazil, Nekawa is a leader in fully integrated ibogaine care, not just ibogaine treatment. Treatment there is delivered with medical oversight and continuous cardiac monitoring.

Sources

City guides

Local guides for major metros — each page covers travel, legal context, and what americans should know before booking a discovery call.

Browse by state

Why Americans travel to Brazil

Americans who have exhausted conventional addiction or mental-health treatment options often arrive at ibogaine through word of mouth, veteran networks, or independent research. Because no legal treatment pathway exists in the United States, the available option is Brazil — where ibogaine treatment has been offered with medical oversight for years.

Nekawa combines that medically supervised pathway with integration on campus and at-home coursework on our 390-acre Costa Verde property near Paraty, Rio de Janeiro state.

Learn about Nekawa's safety protocols · What is ibogaine?

How the Nekawa program works

The program begins with a discovery call and medical screening, which includes medical and psychological evaluation and a cardiac workup, well before participants travel to Brazil for natural ibogaine treatment. Natural ibogaine treatment takes place with spiritual guides and medical oversight, followed by nature-based integration at Costa Verde.

Nekawa is a wellness and education program. We prepare participants, support them through integration, and work alongside the medical team; we do not provide medical services or sell or dispense ibogaine.

Getting started

Book a discovery call to discuss your situation, medical history, and whether the Nekawa program is appropriate for you. Our team can walk americans through travel logistics, timeline, and what to expect before you commit.

Frequently asked questions

More questions? See our program FAQ.

Definitions

Plain-language definitions of the terms used on this page.

Schedule I
A US federal classification under the Controlled Substances Act for substances with no accepted medical use and high abuse potential. Ibogaine has been Schedule I since 1970, which means no clinic in the United States — public or private — can administer it.
ANVISA
Brazil's federal health agency, the Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária — the functional equivalent of the US FDA. Ibogaine enters Brazil through its import rules for medicines that are not available locally.
Window of Wonder
The 2- to 12-week period of elevated neuroplasticity following ibogaine treatment, during which the brain is more receptive to new patterns and integration work. Nekawa's integration work, on campus and at home, are structured around this window.
eVisa (Brazilian)
An electronic visa required for US travelers entering Brazil since January 1, 2026. Applied at brazil.vfsevisa.com, costs US$80.90, processes in roughly 72 hours, valid 10 years with multiple entries up to 90 days per stay.
QT-interval
A measurement on an electrocardiogram (EKG) of the time between ventricular depolarization and repolarization. Ibogaine prolongs the QT interval, which is why the medical team screens every patient with EKG and a comprehensive workup before clearing them for treatment.
Medically supervised
Refers to ibogaine treatment given with medical oversight and continuous cardiac monitoring, after EKG and QT screening. Distinct from retreat-style settings in countries without a federal regulatory pathway.