Ketamine Addiction and Abuse
Ketamine is a drug developed to assist with the use of anesthesia and pain relief, including for both acute and chronic pain. It is used in veterinary medicine as well as by human health professionals. Ketamine abuse does occur, although, on the positive side, there have been new studies where the drug has successfully been used to treat depression. It is still dangerous, and recreational Ketamine use should be avoided. Taking Ketamine, even in low doses, has a hallucinogenic effect, which is why it is one of the popular club drugs in specific social environments.
Ketamine, when not being used by veterinary medicine or human health professionals for legitimate purposes, is among the recreational drugs category referred to as club drugs. Street names for Ketamine include Special K, Kit Kat, Cat Valium, Dorothy, or Vitamin K. Doses of Ketamine can be taken in powder or liquid form. Ketamine abuse is most popular among young adults, along with other club drugs like Ecstasy and MDMA. Ketamine has also been used as a date rape drug, as doses of Ketamine can make it difficult to move. Ketamine abuse should be avoided in general, and people should be aware of its potential to be used aggressively and covertly. The effects of Ketamine include:
- Increased heart rate
- Elevated blood pressure
- Muscle rigidity
- Respiratory depression
- Flashbacks of hallucinations
- Blurred vision
- Paranoia
- Depressive symptoms
- Long-term cognitive difficulties
- Dissociative effects
Ketamine abuse that develops into addiction is tough to stop without professional assistance due to the effects of Ketamine on the chemicals in a person’s brain. Being addicted to Ketamine can cause memory loss and leave an individual in a state where they feel detached and do not have the cognitive ability to lead an everyday life. Substance abuse treatment can help rebalance brain chemicals, allowing mental health professionals to assist with adverse effects on cognitive skills and other issues brought on by taking the forms of Ketamine.
Signs of Ketamine Abuse
Substance abuse of recreational drugs, including club drugs, share many of the same signs. If you think someone close to you is using Ketamine or other drugs for non-legitimate purposes, here are some signs to look for. Here are some of the symptoms of abuse:
- Increasing the amount of use
- Becoming obsessed with the next hit
- Spending excessive amounts of money on the drug
- Failing to keep up with responsibilities such as school and work
- Building up a tolerance and needing more and more to feel a high
- Mixing Ketamine with other drugs
- Neglecting friends and family
Ketamine for Depression
In addition to the legitimate use for pain relief and veterinary medicine, recent clinical rituals have shown that Ketamine can be used for depression treatment. Since the clinical trials, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a nasal spray called esketamine (Spravato) as a medication for depression treatment. This medication is for adults who have major depressive symptoms or signs of suicidal ideation. Health professionals must administer other forms of Ketamine for depression treatment, including I.V. or shots, in an office setting. There are also lozenges, but these are yet to be FDA-approved.
Getting Help With Ketamine Addiction and Abuse
If you have become addicted or are abusing any recreational drugs or any prescription medication for recreational use, including doses of Ketamine, please call us at (800) 426-1818 to find out how we can help. At Muse Addiction Treatment Center, we offer many substance abuse treatment options to help you put drugs and alcohol behind you.
