Tennessee has taken a major step toward bringing a new form of opioid addiction treatment home, and now the federal government is backing the same push.
For Tennessee residents struggling with addiction, the timing of both moves could mean new options are closer than ever before.
The Helping Open Pathways to Effective (HOPE) Treatment Act, approved by both legislative chambers this week, aims to establish Tennessee as a participant in clinical trials authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Days later, the effort got a significant boost from Washington.
Trump Signs Executive Order Fast-Tracking Ibogaine
President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing a faster federal review of psychedelic drugs for treating mental health disorders, including plans to fast-track research and approvals.
“Today’s order will ensure that people suffering from debilitating symptoms might finally have a chance to reclaim their lives,” Trump said as he signed the order.
The order requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to allocate $50 million through the Advanced Research Projects for Health program to match investments made by state governments. The goal to advance research into psychedelic programs for populations with serious mental illness.
The president cited a 2024 study from Stanford University that found promising results in using ibogaine to treat combat veterans with traumatic brain injuries, a leading cause of PTSD, anxiety, depression and suicide among veterans.
The order also directs the FDA and the Drug Enforcement Agency to establish a pathway for eligible patients to access investigational psychedelic drugs.
This includes ibogaine compounds, that are under FDA review and have met basic safety requirements under the Right to Try Act. It is the first time the FDA has offered fast-tracking to any psychedelics.
Why This Matters for Opioid Addiction in Tennessee
Tennessee is facing one of the worst opioid addiction crises in the country. According to the Tennessee Department of Health, more than 3,600 overdose deaths were reported in 2023, and opioid use disorder rates are nearly three times the national average.
“If Tennessee is leading the nation in opioid addiction and veteran suicide, then we have a responsibility to lead the nation in finding solutions,” said Sen. Page Walley (R-Savannah), the bill’s Senate sponsor.
Rep. Bryan Terry (R-Murfreesboro), the House sponsor, said the goal is to evaluate whether ibogaine can safely and effectively treat opioid use disorder, PTSD, and other conditions. “Tennessee needs solutions, not just statistics,” Terry said.
What Is Ibogaine and What Are the Signs of Opioid Addiction
Ibogaine is derived from the roots of the African iboga shrub and has been used for ceremonial and healing purposes for centuries.
It has been designated a Schedule I drug in the U.S. since the 1970s. Early research, however, suggests it may interrupt the cycle of opioid dependence in ways that current treatments cannot match.
In a small study, 33 individuals with opioid dependence received ibogaine; 25 experienced full relief from withdrawal symptoms within 72 hours and no longer showed drug-seeking behavior.
By comparison, existing approved treatments like methadone or buprenorphine are administered over 18 to 24 months, with most studies showing only 17% to 34% of patients successfully quitting opioids.
Ibogaine can trigger potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias, and research on the drug in the U.S. was halted in the 1990s. Tennessee’s law requires cardiac screening and strict medical supervision for all trial participants.
Common signs of opioid addiction include needing larger doses to feel the same effect, being unable to cut back despite wanting to, withdrawing from family or work, and continuing use despite serious health consequences.
If you recognize these signs of addiction in yourself or a loved one, help is available now through addiction treatment centers near you.
How Tennessee’s HOPE Act Works
The law authorizes qualified Tennessee research institutions to join federally sanctioned ibogaine clinical trials operating under a valid FDA investigational new drug authorization. Ibogaine may be administered only as part of clinical trials conducted at hospitals or approved research facilities, under the supervision of a licensed physician.
A newly established Council on Emerging Behavioral Health Treatments will oversee the process, with council appointments scheduled to be completed by September 1, 2026.
A central provision provides immunity from state criminal liability to healthcare providers, researchers, patients, and institutions participating in approved clinical trials.
If you’re in need of recovery support, you can search for rehabs in Tennessee to get started with treatment.
Tennessee Joins a Growing National Movement
Tennessee is part of a rapidly expanding coalition of states pursuing ibogaine as an addiction treatment option.
Texas approved $50 million to launch a public-private partnership to develop ibogaine as an approved drug, and Arizona followed with $5 million for clinical research.
In March, Mississippi and West Virginia became the first additional states to pass ibogaine research bills, both awaiting a governor’s signature. In Mississippi, the bill cleared the House by a 111–1 vote and the Senate by a 51–1 margin.West Virginia’s measure passed with unanimous approval in both chambers.
Comparable legislation remains under consideration in Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, and Vermont.
With the federal executive order now in place, those remaining states have additional incentive to act quickly.
U.S. Veterans have been among the most passionate advocates for this research. Former U.S. Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan, who sought ibogaine treatment outside the U.S., said he came off alcohol, Adderall, benzodiazepines, and opioids after treatment.
“It’s like a light switch,” he said, while also cautioning that the experience involves nausea, vomiting, and 12 hours of being incapacitated, making clear it is not recreational.
Finding Addiction Treatment in Tennessee Today
Ibogaine clinical trials are not yet open to the public in Tennessee, and the program will take time to stand up.
If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid addiction right now, search Addictions.com’s list of rehab treatment centers. Call
800-681-1058
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