Transcend Clinic opened in Cancún in October 2024 with one rule, and two years later it has not changed: nobody starts treatment until our medical team has screened them and decided treatment is appropriate. Sometimes that screening ends with us saying no.
As mentioned on USA Today, we marked our second anniversary with a press release about this approach. Here is what it means if you are thinking about calling us.
Two years of Transcend Clinic: science first
We call our approach Scientia Prima, Latin for "science first." Our leadership and staff base clinical decisions on evidence and sound medical judgment. Dr. Fernando Rivas, our Chief Medical Officer and Medical Director, personally approves or declines every prospective patient. You can meet him and the rest of our medical team.
What medically supervised ibogaine screening looks like at Transcend Clinic
- Before you travel. You speak with us at length before you ever book a flight to Cancún.
- When you arrive. You have a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and comprehensive blood and urine tests.
- Medical review. Our team reviews those results alongside your medical history and the treatment you have had before.
- Clearance. Final clearance comes from our cardiologist on staff after reviewing these results and completing a cardiovascular assessment.
Our intake process page walks through these steps in more detail.
Why a "no" is part of screening at our ibogaine clinic in Mexico
Every person who contacts us has a different history and a different level of risk. Our CEO, Jorge Medina, said it this way: "Many of the people who call us have done everything they were told to do and are still struggling. They deserve a straight medical answer about whether we can help, even when that answer is no."
Many people who reach us have already tried detox, residential treatment or medication-assisted treatment and relapsed. Your treatment history is part of what our team looks at during screening.
Who cares for you at Transcend Clinic once you are accepted
Accepted patients stay under physician-led care for their whole stay, with 24/7 on-site medical supervision. Our medical team is drawn from emergency medicine, critical care and psychiatry, with a cardiologist on staff.
Ibogaine for veterans, first responders and everyone else
We have a particular focus on veterans and first responders living with substance use disorders, and we treat patients from all walks of life. Our CEO, Jorge Medina, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Read more in our post on ibogaine treatment for veterans.
Important information
Ibogaine is not an FDA-approved medication, and it is a Schedule I substance in the United States. Nothing in this post is medical advice, and screening does not guarantee acceptance.
This post is adapted from our press release, "Two Years In, Cancún's Transcend Clinic Makes Medical Screening the Gate to Addiction Treatment, and the Answer Can Be No." Read the original release on USA Today. Learn more at transcendclinic.com.