The inquest into the tragic death of JW, a 40 year old male heroin addict, concluded this morning at Westminster Coroner's Court, London, having been adjourned from Jan 10 2001, pending examination of reference toxicological data from the lab of Dr Deborah Mash, an acknowledged scientific authority on ibogaine and iboga species.

Having heard evidence from J, who carried out the treatment, the pathologist, the police toxicologist, and Nick Sandberg, {myself), amongst others, the coroner, Dr Paul Knapman, found that JW died approximately 40 hours after ingesting 6g of a Tabernanthe iboga preparation, (T. iboga is the source of numerous active alkaloids including ibogaine), in an attempt to break a lengthy heroin addiction, having had no success with other detoxification strategies. He stated that "it seems that the most likely explanation is that he died as a reaction to this preparation."

It was therefore ruled that JW died principally from a fatal reaction to Tabernanthe iboga preparation, the fact that he had suffered liver damage as a result of Hepatitus C being recorded as a secondary cause. A verdict of 'death by misadventure' was recorded.

In addition, the coroner stated that he shall be "writing to the Medicines Control Agency, drawing to their attention the existence of Tab iboga preparation used for therapeutic purposes, for their consideration of some regulation of the sale or supply of this substance." Essentially this means that Tabernanthe iboga and-or its recognised alkaloid content, (including ibogaine), may shortly be scheduled as a 'restricted drug' in the UK, making possession illegal.

With regard to reports that the deceased may have died as a result of ibogaine toxicity, the coroner recognised the presence of other active alkaloids in the preparation ingested by JW and made the statement that the blame for this death "need not necessarily be laid at the feet of ibogaine."

Ibogaine Protest outside the offices of The Observer