Ibogaine in Corrections
At Advanced Correctional Healthcare, Inc. (ACH), we believe organizations should be clear about what they stand for, especially as conversations evolve around addiction treatment, criminal justice reform, and emerging therapies. If an intervention proves capable of meaningfully reducing addiction, strengthening families, lowering repeat offenses, and keeping more people out of jail, that should be recognized as a meaningful benefit to communities. A future with fewer people entering custody because health needs are addressed earlier would represent progress. If that progress reduces the need for correctional healthcare at scale, we would view that as a success for communities, not a setback for our organization.
That is how we view the growing discussion around ibogaine. ACH is not endorsing any treatment before the science, regulation, and clinical oversight are in place, but we support serious examination of therapies that may help address addiction and related drivers of incarceration. Correctional healthcare providers see the human and community cost of untreated substance use each day. If ibogaine, or another emerging intervention, proves to be effective, ethical, and clinically appropriate, we would welcome its ability to reduce suffering, support recovery, decrease repeat offenses, and lessen the need for incarceration. Our work is to meet the health needs communities face today while supporting progress that may reduce those needs tomorrow.
Dr. William Dennis, MPH, CCHP-CP
Chief Medical Officer & Ibogaine Research Advocate
Dr. William R. Dennis is a physician with 26 years of clinical experience in emergency medicine and correctional health care. He earned his medical degree from the University of Missouri–Kansas City, completed residency training in emergency medicine, and holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh. He also completed fellowship training in Emergency Medical Services and Disaster Medicine.
A U.S. Navy veteran, Dr. Dennis served as EMS Director for Navy Medicine East and has spent his career improving crisis response, clinical systems, and care delivery. He is a Certified Correctional Health Care Professional – Clinical Provider and currently serves as Chief Medical Officer for Advanced Correctional Healthcare, Inc., where he oversees more than 160 practitioners across 18 states.
Dr. Dennis is especially interested in helping veterans and people facing substance use and mental health challenges while incarcerated. He believes that early observations of ibogaine suggest this natural substance could hold remarkable potential for the corrections industry.