While Howard Lotsof will be remembered as both the father figure and guiding light of the Ibogaine movement, those of us who worked with him for more than 30 years hold a different perspective. We think of him not as the wizened patriarch of the Ibogaine movement of late, but recall the young, idealistic, and totally committed Howard Lotsof we knew, who dedicated all of his energies and life force to helping those who occupy the lowest rung of society's ladder, the addicts of the world. Despite the passage of decades, his commitment to the chemically dependent never waivered.

Unlike the majority of those in the drug abuse treatment field, Howard did not condemn drug use by individuals. His was never "anti-drug" per se, nor did he espouse total abstinence as the goal of treatment. Rather than "anti-drug", Howard was decidedly "pro-choice." He stood firmly for the right of individuals to choose whether or not to use drugs. If an individual wished to use drugs, it was their inherent right to do so. However, when an individual became addicted, they lose their ability to choose whether or not to use. Howard recognized that Ibogaine, above all, gave the individual back the right of choice. His commitment to that principal remained constant throughout his career. I therefore submit for your consideration this modest Tribute to the Young Howard Lotsof, who simply and eloquently espoused his commitment to the concept of choice. I hope that we can all rise to that standard of tolerance which Howard raised. Bob Sisko