Ketamine is a synthetic compound, first developed in 1962 as a fast-acting anesthetic and a safer alternative to phencyclidine (PCP) for treating severe, acute pain, especially during surgery. For many years now, ketamine has been used as an anesthetic, and although its use has remained widely unchanged for decades, its potential has not stopped there. Recent research shows that ketamine can be incredibly effective in treating mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, as well as addiction and substance use disorders.
 
Ketamine has been regularly used in veterinary medicine for decades, and due to its hallucinogenic and dissociative effects at higher doses, it has also gained a lot of popularity as a recreational or party drug. Even though ketamine produces euphoric and even entheogenic effects when used clinically, under the supervision of a medical professional, it has nearly limitless potential in the treatment of addiction and other mental health disorders.

There is evidence supporting the effects ketamine has on the brain and the benefits it provides for addiction recovery, relapse reduction, and long-term abstention. While scientific researchers have determined the positive effects of using ketamine for addiction issues, ketamine treatment clinics are experiencing first-hand the amazing powers ketamine can achieve when administered in a therapeutic setting.

According to research, patients report that ketamine helps drug and alcohol addiction by:

–  Reducing symptoms of withdrawal, including pain & nausea
–  Subtly boosting energy and decreasing fatigue 
–  Cutting down on cravings—this is potentially achieved by interfering with the reward pathways in the brain

Additionally, because ketamine is incredibly effective at treating depression, PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, this can make it doubly efficacious when addressing addiction, as these issues are often comorbid.
 
While more research on how ketamine affects addiction is needed, current data suggests it may change how the brain deals with cravings, motivation to quit a drug, and controlling behavioral reactions, including impulsivity. According to several studies, ketamine treatment might also make behavioral therapy, like CBT, more effective, which is a big part of overcoming addiction. For ketamine to be helpful in addiction treatment, it must be used under the close care of licensed medical professionals; it is not prescribed to be taken home.

Because ketamine is such an effective form of treatment for countless different conditions, many people can benefit from this revolutionary therapy. The people that would make good candidates for ketamine therapy include those who have a substance use disorder (alcoholism, opioid use disorder, amphetamine abuse, and many, many more) and those who are willing and actively working to address their addiction.
 
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, the medical professionals at Psychiatry Unplugged in Glendale CA can help you on the path to recovery. Call us today or book an online appointment for ketamine therapy for addiction and substance use disorders, or visit our clinic conveniently located at 121 W Lexington Dr #414, Suite A Glendale, CA 91203. We serve patients from Glendale CA, Hollywood CA, Burbank CA, Studio City, Pasadena CA, and Calabasas CA. We look forward to serving you!