Date: Sun, 14 Dec 1997 20:33:01 EST
From: Chris Jenks <infinity@sj.bigger.net>
To: Multiple recipients of list <ibogaine@ibogaine.org>
Subject: New Addiction Treatment


  Dear Everyone,

  In a book I'm reading called TIHKAL, by Dr. Sasha Shulgin, I learned of a
new addiction treatment. It is a Schedule I substance, just like ibogaine -
what a coincidence!!
  "This base, alpha-ethyltryptamine or etryptamine, was a promising
anti-depressant, explored clinically as the acetate salt by Upjohn under
the name of Monase. Its central stimulant activity is probably not due to
its monoamineoxidase inhibition activity, but appears to stem from its
structural relationship to the indolic psychedelics. It was withdrawn from
potential commercial use with the appearance of an unacceptable incidence
of a medical condition known as agranulocytosis, but the extramural
research into its action, among the lay population, goes on.
  One property has been mentioned more than once in anecdotal reports. It
appears to serve well, with short term dosage regimens, as an effective
tool in kicking dependency on opiates. In chronic use, there is a rather
rapid tolerance built up over four or five days, that allows a dosage
escalation to a daily load of a gram or more. There might be some
discomfort such as sores in the softer tissues of the mouth, but apparently
the withdrawal from heroin is easy and effective. Here is a potential tool
in addiction treatment that might warrant closer investigation." - pp. 435-436
  "... The DEA retreated, licking its wounds, and got its own back by
immediately proposing the placement of alpha-ET into Schedule I. They
succeeded, and today Monase is today no longer an FDA-approved
antidepressant but it is, instead, a drug with a high potential for abuse.
One of the more unexpected forms of abuse can be seen in the costs to the
researcher who wished to study it in some legal way. Before it became a
scheduled drug, alpha-ethyltryptamine was what is known as a "fine
chemical" and was listed in the catalog of a major chemical company (1993)
for a modest $63.90 for a hundred grams. It became a Schedule I drug by
emergency scheduling that same year. Recently (1995) I noted that the
chemical has been discontinued (as a fine chemical) but has appeared in a
catalog from a major supply house for neurological chemicals. Alpha-ethyl
tryptamine now requires a DEA license to purchase, and retailed at $424.00
for 100 milligrams. That calculates out at $424,000.00 for a hundred grams,
a price inflation of a factor of almost 7000, or a 700,000% increase. Now
THAT is truly drug abuse." - p. 441.

            Sincerely,

                        Chris