TRUTH SEEKER TRUTH SEEKER Est. 1873 Vol.117, No.5 P.O.Box2832 San Diego, California 92112 619-239-9043 Focus Nature of Addictive Disorders Addiction: Nature vs Nurture—Again? James W. Prescott Nature of Addiction Stanton Peele Biological Balance and Addictions Ray Peat Tabernanthe Ibogaine Ibogaine: An Open Letter Howard Lotsof Ibogaine: Miracle Cure? Max Cantor. Interviews: Ibogaine Treated Addicts Max Cantor ICASH: International Coalition For Addict Self Help Bob Rand Tabernanthe Iboga: An African Plant Of Social Importance Harrison G. Pope, Jr Tabernanthe Iboga: Narcotic Ecstasis and The Work Of The Ancestors James W. Fernandez Drugs, Religion and The Healing Process James W. Prescott Marijuana Medical Marijuana R. C. Randall The Many Uses of Hemp Chris Conrad Why Not Use Hemp To Reverse The Greenhouse Effect & Save The World Jack Herer The Environmental Impact Of The Laws Against Marijuana Alan W. Bock 51 Drug Treatment Perspectives Executive Summary: Commentary On 20th Annual Report. Research Advisory Panel For The California Governor & Legislature Frederick H. Meyers 53 Save Our Selves: A Revolution in Recovery James Christopher 54 Humanistic Recovery Programs Felix R. Bremy 58 Forum What Religious Freedom Means Edd Doerr .... 62 Atheism: A Path to Social Justice Melvin Kornbluth .... 63 Superior Men .James Hervey Johnson .... 64 Art Credits Cover depicts the root and leaf of the African Ibogaine plant, a major focus of this issue. Cover Illustration: silhouette photo by Marti Kranzberg Computer-enhanced photo and Ibogaine illustration by John Carlson The Truth Seeker Vol. 117 • No.5 Fall 1990 Page 1 Addiction: Nature vs. Nurture — Again? by James W. Prescott ienation, depression, violence and the addictive disorders. Specifically, it was shown how the Biology and culture are the two sides of the rearing of infants and the young in socially- coin of addiction and they cannot be separated isolated environments (translate into failure of from one another. affectional bonding between mother and infant; and between parents and offspring) results in a The disease of dualism is once again upon us. wide-variety of structural and functional abnor- In fact, it has never really left us. When it comes malities of the brain. Some of these abnormali- to questions about any aspect of human behav- ties include reduced number and malformation ior the age-old question arises: Is the explana- of dendrites, spines and opiate receptors (struc- tion of this kind of behavior to be found in our tural bases of brain cell communication); and a genes (nature) or in the environment (nurture)? variety of abnormalities in neurochemical trans- culture This question is further re-stated as follows: Is mitters and electrical characteristics of the brain modifies the the explanation of this kind of behavior to be (functional bases of brain cell communication). found in our biology or in the social-psycho- In particular, it was emphasized how the course of brain logical matrix of our culture? Thus, in this neurobiological circuits of the brain that mediate development strategy of thinking, genes are equated with pleasure are damaged by social-isolation rearing biology; and environment is equated with cul- (sensory deprivation of touch and body move- ture. Further, this form of dualism is invariably ment) that defines the failure of affectional posed as an either/or proposition and, rarely, as bonding. In such brain-damaged and brain- an interaction or combination of the two sides dysfunctional organisms, drugs are sought to of this coin of dualism. Like any coin (behav- bring relief from the emotional pain of this early ior), its identity or existence cannot be described affectional deprivation (loss of love); and to with only one side of the coin. This situation is provide a different and more immediate form of analogous to trying to comprehend and find brain stimulation to experience pleasure that meaning in the ZEN statement: "The sound of cannot be readily experienced through the one hand clapping"! normative routes of the sensory systems that A further error in this disease of biological produce pleasure (body touch and movement) and cultural dualism is the assumption that our because they have been damaged by early sen- biology is formed only by our genes and not by sory deprivation. This is why child abuse and our culture. Nothing could be further from the neglect (e.g., sensory affectional deprivation) is truth. The structural and functional develop- found so invariably in the history of violent and ment of the brain are both influenced substan- addictive personality disorders. tially by the nature of our social-physical It is for these reasons that the protagonists of environment, i.e. our culture. Structure is biological and cultural dualism when explaining defined by the physical characteristics of brain and understanding drug addiction are so much in cells, e.g., cell body, axons, dendrites, spines; error. Biology and culture are the two sides of the synapses—receptor mechanisms; and function coin of addiction and they cannot be separated is defined by the neurochemical and neuroelec- from one another. Elsewhere, I have referred to trical characteristics of brain cell activity. these two kinds of biology as "Geno-biology" and Last year in the Sept/Oct edition of The "Eco-biology" (Prescott, 1979). Unfortunately, Truth Seeker, which was devoted to the drug the failure to recognize these two forms of biology problem, three essays were published that out- and other errors inherent in biological and cultural lined how the social-physical environment, i.e. dualism have profound consequences for under- culture modifies the course of brain develop- standing the origins, treatment and prevention of ment at both the structural and functional the addictive disorders and they carry substantial levels; and how these modifications of brain emotional, social and economic costs to both the structure and function underlie behaviors of al- individual and society. Page 2 The Truth Seeker Vol. 117 • No. 5 Fail 1990 For example, it is well established that the ized by some form(s) of brain dysfunction that Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Axis requires more directed and focused treatments (HPA) is significantly involved In high levels of that are not present in the cognitive therapies ethanol (alcohol) consumption in animals which must come later in a well-designed treat- exposed to high stress. Furthermore, it has been ment program. Certainly, addicts who are in the shown that experimental injection of ACTH grips of uncontrolled "craving" because of a (adrenocortico-trophic hormone, a neuropep- brain disorder do not belong in prison nor in the tide chain of amino acids labeled 1-39) results in custody of law enforcement agencies who have similar effects as previously found in stressed no training or expertise in the treatment or drugs are animals. (Nash and Maickel, 1988). More sig- management of brain-behavioral disorders. sought to bring nificantly, it was also found that the injection of Other solutions are needed in dealing with the a specific segment of this amino acid chain individual addict. relief from the (ACTH, 4-10) completely blocked the consump- In this edition of The Truth Seekert\\t reader emotional pain tion of ethanol in the stressed animals (Krishnan will find the viewpoints of several very distin- and Maickel, 1990). Based upon the peaceful guished authorities on drug use, abuse, and of this early and contented behavior of the ACTH, 4-10 addictions who prefer to view either the bio- affectional treated animals, these investigators referred to logical or cultural face of addiction, to the ACTH, 4-10 as the "fcclmggood" chemical that neglect of the other. In particular, a selected deprivation is naturally produced by the brain and is similar contribution from Dr. Stanton Pcele, one of the (loss of love) to the endorphins, another "feeUnggood"chemi- most distinguished and respected authorities on cal of the brain that naturally counters the drug abuse and addiction, has addressed the effects of stress. Such reasoning is supported by nature of addiction. the findings of Blum, et al (1987) who found Although, this writer may agree with 90% of that alcohol-preferring mice had significantly what Dr. Peele has to say about the addictive lower base line methionine-enkephalin (brain disorders, that remaining 10% error is deadly, opiate) levels in the hypothalamus as compared for he sets biology against culture (like body to non-alcohol preferring mice. against soul) and, in the process, rejects the Thus, alcohol consumption is pursued to ex- essential relevance of biology to understanding cess not to get drunk but rather to obtain ACTH the addictive disorders. This "disease of dual- release, specifically, its "feeling good" segment— ism" is well reflected in his article "Second ACTH, 4-10 —and/or the enkephalins because of Thoughts About A Gene For Alcoholism" in a brain deficit(s) that prevents rhe experiencing of the August 1990 edition of The Atlantic Monthly The brain is natural pleasure due to chronic stress. which the readers of The Truth Seeker are urged the organ of The findings by other investigators that plasma to consult. (I am in agreement with Dr. Peele in cortisol, a measure of HPA activity, is significantly his rejecting the gene theory of "alcoholism" behavior and lower in hospitalized substance abusers than in but disagree with his position that biology is not of our normal controls, supports the role of ACTH and important for understanding alcohol and other an abnormal functioning HPA system of the brain drug addictions). thoughts, in these addicts (King, et. al., 1990). The brain is the organ of behavior and of our emotions and It is not possible to cite the other studies in thoughts, emotions and social/moral values— this essay, that support the line of reasoning that even our "spirituality" which is of a human and social/moral developmental brain deficits associated with an not "divine" nature.