Philip’s Marathon for Recovery and Research
Philip Drechsel is running the Munich Marathon to support the open-access publication of a clinical case report on ketamine use disorder and ibogaine-assisted treatment.
His campaign connects a personal recovery story with a broader commitment to responsible research, clinical documentation, and public understanding.
Philip’s Marathon for Recovery and Research
Philip Drechsel is running the Munich Marathon to support the open-access publication of a clinical case report on ketamine use disorder and ibogaine-assisted treatment.
Support the Campaign€8,400 current goal, around €200 per kilometer
The short version
On 11 October 2026, Philip will run his first marathon at the Munich Marathon by Brooks.
His first fundraising goal was €4,200, roughly €100 for each kilometer of the marathon. The funds will support the open-access publication of a clinical case report documenting his recovery from ketamine use disorder following ibogaine-assisted treatment.
The aim is to make this case accessible to clinicians, researchers, and others working to better understand substance use disorders, treatment-resistant cases, and emerging approaches that require careful scientific documentation.
Support the campaign
Every donation supports the publication of this case report and the nonprofit work of the Psychedelia-Stiftung. Donations are tax-deductible in Germany.
Update, 17 July 2026 The first €4,200 milestone was reached within 48 hours. Further donations support the next case report and the publication work connected to it.
Milestone 1 reached
€4,200
of €4,200 funded
Fully funded within 48 hours.
Next target: €8,400
Live campaign progress and donation form Live campaign
Donations go directly to the Psychedelia-Stiftung, a registered nonprofit foundation in Germany, and support publication costs and nonprofit research communication.
Publication now available
The case report is now published open access
The case report at the center of Philip’s campaign was published in Frontiers in Psychiatry on 20 July 2026 and is freely available to clinicians, researchers and the public.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Open access
The article documents a single case of severe ketamine use disorder involving ketamine, cocaine and alcohol, followed for approximately 17 months after ibogaine treatment. Serial toxicology and standardized assessments were consistent with sustained abstinence and improvements in psychological and functional outcomes.
As a single case report, the publication does not establish the efficacy or safety of ibogaine treatment. Its value lies in detailed clinical documentation and in identifying questions that require further controlled research.
Why this campaign matters
Ketamine is increasingly discussed in medical and therapeutic contexts. At the same time, ketamine use disorder remains under-documented in the clinical literature.
This case report does not claim to prove the effectiveness of a treatment. It documents one clinical case in a structured way, so that researchers and clinicians can examine it critically and build better questions for future research.
For the Psychedelia-Stiftung, this is exactly the kind of work that matters: responsible documentation, sober public education, and support for research that can help the field move beyond stigma, speculation, and oversimplified claims.
Research team
Research contributors supporting the campaign
The published case report and the campaign around it draw on clinical, scientific, and ethical expertise across substance use disorders, psychedelic research, and responsible public communication.
Profile 01
Sergio Pérez Rosal, MD, MSc
Anesthesiology, emergency medicine, clinical practice
He is a specialist in anesthesiology, emergency medicine, intensive care medicine, acute care, and pain management. He serves as Site Manager of the Emergency Department and Senior Physician at the Clinic for Acute and Emergency Medicine at the Neuruppin University Hospital.
As co-founder of OVID Clinics Berlin, the first clinic of its kind in Germany, he brings experience in the responsible integration of psychedelic-assisted approaches into modern medical and psychotherapeutic contexts.
Profile 02
Sonya C. Faber, PhD, MBA
Neuroscience, clinical development, health equity
She is a neuroscientist and clinical development specialist with a background in developmental genetics, neurobiology, pharmaceutical clinical trials, and drug development.
Her work brings together neuroscience, clinical research, and questions of equity in health care. In this field, she contributes an ethical and research-oriented perspective on how future clinical models can be developed with greater cultural awareness, scientific rigor, and attention to access.
Philip’s race in Munich
Where the money goes
Open-access publication
The main purpose of the campaign is to cover publication costs for the clinical case report, so the article can be freely available.
Further publication work
If funds remain after publication costs, they will support further research publication work through the Psychedelia-Stiftung.
Nonprofit structure
All donations are made to the Psychedelia-Stiftung, a registered nonprofit foundation in Germany.
Transaction costs
A portion of the funds may cover transaction costs related to the donation process.
A note on ibogaine
Ibogaine is a naturally occurring psychoactive compound that is being studied for its potential role in the treatment of substance use disorders.
It is not approved as a medicine in most countries and is a controlled substance in some jurisdictions. Ibogaine also carries serious medical risks and should not be used outside of appropriate medical supervision.
This campaign supports scientific publication and public education. It does not provide medical advice, promote substance use, or recommend any treatment.
Further reading
Peer-reviewed research relevant to this case report and the questions it documents.
Cherian et al., Nature Medicine, 2024
Magnesium-ibogaine therapy in veterans with traumatic brain injuries
An observational study of 30 special operations veterans reporting improvements in PTSD, depression, anxiety, and disability following magnesium-paired ibogaine treatment.
Köck et al., Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 2022
A systematic literature review of clinical trials and therapeutic applications of ibogaine
A review of 24 studies covering 705 individuals. It finds evidence that ibogaine can reduce withdrawal and craving in substance use disorders, while documenting severe complications and deaths linked to its cardiac effects.
Esperança et al., Molecules, 2026
Ibogaine: therapeutic potential, cardiac safety, and translational perspectives in the treatment of substance use disorders
A recent scoping review weighing ibogaine’s therapeutic potential against its documented cardiotoxicity and the need for standardized clinical pathways.
Roberts et al., Journal of Addiction Medicine, 2024
The pharmacological management of ketamine use disorder: a systematic review
A review of 12 studies on managing ketamine intoxication, withdrawal, and craving. It concludes that the current evidence base is of very low quality, which is part of why further documentation matters.
Hoelen et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2009
Long-QT syndrome induced by the anti-addiction drug ibogaine
A clinical case report documenting ibogaine-induced cardiac QT prolongation, one of the substance’s most serious known risks.
Featured NGOs
Organizations advancing the field
This campaign highlights nonprofit organizations working across psychedelic research, access, education, public engagement, and responsible integration into healthcare and society.
PAREA
A European nonprofit supporting safe access to psychedelic therapies through healthcare, working with doctors, researchers, patients, and advocates.
Visit website
OPEN Foundation
An independent Dutch organization advancing psychedelic research, education, professional training, and strategic advocacy.
Visit website
Norrsken Mind
A nonprofit foundation funding high-quality psychedelic science in Europe and supporting initiatives for responsible future integration into healthcare.
Visit website
TNHI
An initiative translating clinical research into public conversations and convening researchers, philanthropists, investors, and policymakers.
Visit website
UPRA
A Ukrainian nonprofit advancing scientific research and legal access to psychedelic-assisted therapy, training clinicians and advocating for veterans and civilians affected by war.
Visit website