Ketamine was developed primarily for use in surgeries as an anaesthetic agent. This medication is also utilised in the treatment of depression that is resistant to conventional therapy. While it can be an essential drug in therapy, its potential for abuse has become an issue, as shown by a concerning rise in cases of ketamine use in the UK.

Here at Sierra Recovery, we understand the challenges you face in ketamine addiction. Through learning how ketamine affects your overall health, we can help you understand the need for rehab and support you in breaking the cycle.

Ketamine Addiction

Ketamine is a safe anaesthetic drug developed for surgical use. When used according to recommendations and under medical supervision, ketamine can be a potent medication for sedation and pain relief. In addition to this, it has also been found that ketamine is an effective treatment option for resistant depression, which is depression that does not respond to traditional treatment. However, it’s important to note that using it for resistant depression is not licensed by the NHS. While it shows promise in certain medical conditions, non-medical use can result in dependence and severe complications.

This medication, also known by its street name “Special K”, can induce a state of calm and distort your perception of reality, making you see and hear things that aren’t there. Users may feel “dissociated” from reality (dissociative state), often referred to as entering a “K-hole”. For this reason, some people may turn to ketamine to escape problems and cope with stress.

Effects of Ketamine Abuse in the Body

The most common adverse reactions to ketamine include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diplopia, drowsiness, dysphoria (state of unease), and confusion. With long-term use, ketamine can produce ill effects on the mind and body. The use of the drug has been reported to affect your bladder resulting in a condition called “ketamine bladder syndrome” which can cause problems with urination and may even lead to permanent damage to the bladder. With regular use, the effects of the drug may be pleasant at first, causing dissociation from reality and feelings of euphoria, but over time, ketamine can lead to cognitive problems such as memory impairment, confusion, and loss of coordination. Stopping ketamine use can also lead to psychological and physical withdrawal symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms of Ketamine Misuse and Addiction

Early recognition of the signs and symptoms of ketamine addiction is essential to improve treatment outcomes. According to the NHS, one of the signs to look out for is reliance on the drug or being psychologically dependent on the drug, such that when ketamine use is stopped, depression relapses. Tolerance can also be developed, which is taking more of the drug to achieve the same desired effects. Some of the most important tell-tale signs of addiction include continued use despite knowing that ketamine use has been causing problems, continuing use despite obvious harm to one’s well-being, obsession with acquiring the drug, and using more than intended.

Ketamine and Overdose Risk

Ketamine drug use can lead to overdose, which manifests as unconsciousness and extremely slow breathing (respiratory depression)—the chances of toxicity increase when this medication is taken with other depressant substances such as alcohol. The recreational use of ketamine, along with such substances, can be fatal because the toxicity cannot be reversed since there is no known antidote for ketamine. Individuals suffering from overdose may report symptoms such as sedation, altered consciousness, blood pressure, and heart rate changes. The treatment is primarily supportive care, such as maintaining airways, breathing, and circulation.

Different Approaches to Treatment for Ketamine Addiction

The chances of success in recovery increased with the interplay of different treatment approaches. These are designed to complement each other in overcoming ketamine addiction.

Abstinence From Ketamine Use

Studies have shown that abstinence leads to significant improvement in bladder-related symptoms. Moreover, it also greatly impacts improving executive functions in patients. In a study done in 2019, a 12-week abstinence period from ketamine showed significant improvement in working memory, impulse control, learning, and communication. However, abstinence alone does not lead to full recovery. This highlights the need for multiple treatment approaches to target other aspects of addiction. Utmost patience and continuous support are important in this stage. The key to recovery is sustained abstinence, along with other forms of therapy.

Group Therapy

Sharing your experiences with others going through the same thing can be incredibly healing. Group therapy provides support by sharing experiences, learning coping strategies from others, and gaining insights from other individuals’ recovery journeys. It fosters solidarity and helps reduce feelings of isolation by being a part of a support group, sharing with confidence and without the fear of judgement.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

In CBT, the therapist will help you identify triggers of addiction and reframe your thoughts that affect unhealthy behavioural patterns. This is done through developing practical strategies on how to handle these triggers without resorting to ketamine use. CBT will teach you healthier coping strategies to overcome stress and difficult problems.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)

MET is a therapeutic approach that utilises motivational interviewing techniques to help strengthen your motivation and continue with the treatment plan. MET helps reduce the resistance to treatment, especially at the earliest stages for those who have just entered treatment. Your therapist will help you become more self-aware and find reasons to motivate you throughout recovery. It’s particularly helpful if you’re struggling to commit to getting better.

Family Therapy

This involves your loved ones addressing family dynamics and facilitating better communication among members. Family therapy helps repair strained relationships and address family problems that affect your ability to get better. One of the main benefits is creating a reliable support system for long-term recovery.

Management of Ketamine Bladder Syndrome

This approach focuses on alleviating the distressing symptoms of ketamine bladder syndrome. It starts with assessing the severity of bladder symptoms using imaging and other diagnostics. After that, medications will be administered for pain management and address your bladder function. Your doctor will further evaluate your response to treatment with the medicines. In this approach, the priority is symptom relief and return of bladder function. If the patient fails to respond to medications, specific non-surgical procedures can be done by a specialist to repair the bladder. Surgery would be the final option if the symptoms remain uncontrolled after utilising non-surgical measures.

Ketamine Addiction Treatment at Sierra Recovery

Here at Sierra Recovery, we are committed to providing the best care you deserve. Our evidenced-based addiction treatment programmes are designed to address complications of chronic ketamine use and help you stop using the drug. There are numerous options available for treatment, and we will guide you in choosing the programmes that work best for you, taking into consideration the severity of addiction, the presence of any complications, culture/religion, and preferences. Regain control of your life, away from ketamine use, and achieve sobriety in a safe, welcoming environment in the best way possible.

Getting Help for Ketamine Addiction

If you or someone you know is suffering from ketamine addiction, it is never too late to get help. Struggling with addiction is complex and can be devastating in so many ways. However, there are proven treatment options to overcome this. At Sierra Recovery, we are here to help you break free from ketamine addiction. Talk to us about your concerns and how we can help you.