Patients Face Safety Risks in Overseas Psychedelic Therapy Clinics

Adriana Giafardino traveled from Florida to Transcend Clinic in Cancún seeking ibogaine treatment to overcome a 21-year opioid addiction. However, the experience took a traumatic turn when a doctor advised her to smoke 5-MeO-DMT. In January, while lying on a mattress and inhaling from a glass pipe, she later awoke to find the doctor naked and assaulting her. She reported that employees entered the room after the incident, the doctor fled the clinic, and Mexican authorities arrested him on rape charges.

Giafardino, 35, intends to sue Transcend Clinic, accusing staff of dissuading her from seeking hospital care and overmedicating her with psychotics, leaving her disoriented. The clinic’s statement acknowledged the incident, confirming their intervention and the ongoing criminal investigation. They also admitted the doctor violated protocols by administering 5-MeO-DMT, asserting their commitment to medical standards in the field.

In Peru, Fernanda Baraybar of the Spiritual Emergency Response Team highlighted that 8–10 annual cases involve abuse at indigenous psychedelic retreats, where practitioners exploit vulnerable clients. While her organization assists victims in navigating legal systems, many lack recourse. “This harms the entire spiritual community,” she warned.

Psychedelic advocates caution that safety incidents abroad could hinder the field’s progress. Jesús Alonso Olamendi of the International Center for Ethnobotanical Education noted that while many patients report positive outcomes, unregulated clinics and misconduct risks threaten the industry’s future. “The issue isn’t the substances themselves,” he said, “but the unethical practices during treatment.”

Ricardo Hernández Ruiz contributed reporting from Mexico City.

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