Generation K: The disturbing rise of ketamine abuse among young people

Anti-nausea medications (ondansetron, metoclopramide, dimenhydrinate, or promethazine) were often used, sometimes prophylactically. Headaches usually resolved spontaneously but occasionally required over-the-counter (OTC) medications (ibuprofen or acetaminophen), and one patient required IV migraine medications before ketamine treatment. There were 4 reports of irritable bladder, but all noted the effect was also temporary, lasting hours to days following treatment. But when someone regularly abuses or is addicted to the drug, it can cause irreversible psychological impairment. „Long-term use can lead to flashbacks, mood changes, depression, reduced memory and concentration and irritability,“ she says. „Plus, these new mental health changes can have a knock-on effect, often leading to financial, social and work issues.“

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Carney further warns that people are playing „Russian roulette“ if they mix ketamine with other substances such as alcohol or cocaine, as this can increase the risk of overdose. From mood swings and anxiety to teary comedowns, ketamine can cause immediate changes to our mental ketamine addiction health. „In the short term, ketamine can cause psychosis, memory loss, disorientation and loss of motor skills,“ Carney explains.

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Overall, fewer prescribers who used only non-parenteral forms of ketamine reported that safety measures should be required, as compared to those who use parenteral and combined types of ketamine (Table 4). In particular, those who prescribed only non-parenteral ketamine did not indicate a need for a crash cart, oxygen, vital signs, presence of an AED, or ACLS training. Firstly, it is worth emphasizing that ketamine’s addictive potential separates it from other psychedelics. For example, magic mushrooms, ayahuasca, and ibogaine not only have a low risk for abuse and addiction in a clinical context; they can also be incredibly anti-addictive in their effects.

Ketamine Addiction in the United Kingdom and Australia

“Ketamine does not cause addiction in terms of what we know as a chemical addiction, causing withdrawal symptoms after discontinued use, as we see in substances like opioids, alcohol, nicotine, heroin, and many others. Ketamine can be abused and with excessive use, much greater amounts than medical providers would administer or prescribe, severe cases have shown cognitive/memory decline as well as bladder wall changes/thickening. Ketamine has been in use for over 50 years and has been scientifically proven as a relatively safe medication when used as intended and in a safe and medically supervised setting. Different psychological factors can increase the risk of substance misuse. Drugs are often used to suppress emotional stress and relieve the symptoms of a range of mental health issues, from depression to anxiety. Repeatedly turning to ketamine to ease emotional pain or trauma increases tolerance.

• What’s more, due to the lack of long-term studies on ketamine for depression, it’s impossible to know what the effects of the drug may look like months or years down the track.
• Linda Cottler, Ph.D., and her fellow researchers at the University of Florida have shown that KUD can be reliably diagnosed.

Since then, he has researched and written about psychedelics for various publications, covering the legality of psychedelics, drug policy reform, and psychedelic science. Dr. Steven L. Mandel, M.D., is an internationally-recognized expert & pioneer in the use of ketamine infusion therapy to treat mental health disorders & chronic pain. Dr. Mandel has more than 40 years of experience utilizing ketamine as a board-certified anesthesiologist. He is the founder & president of Ketamine Clinics Los Angeles, a leading ketamine infusion therapy clinic in Southern California.

Dr. Christopher Romig – ARK Integrative Medicine

Stoicism offers excellent coping strategies in the face of adversity—useful in an industry where most start-ups fail—but taken to extremes, it can also be a pathway to disengagement from the world and people around you. Ketamine, similarly, can afford its users space between themselves and overwhelming despair, which might help explain how it can treat depression, Mathai, the Miami psychiatrist, said. If you’d rather approach a treatment centre directly, the charity Frank have details on drug support available across the UK. In addition to the NHS and private treatment centres like Delamere, there are also charities and organisations that can be useful resources too. „Compared to opioids, we know that ketamine does have a lower potential in being addictive, but it can and does cause dependence,“ stresses Carney.

• If identified and treated early, it may be possible to avoid the major consequences of the disease.
• Tolerance increases and the user needs higher doses to achieve the same effects, which further desensitises the brain’s reward system.
• Additionally, when the user is temporarily paralyzed by the drug, they won’t be able to clear their airway, which can lead them to choke and potentially die from aspiration.
• The drug hit headlines recently when linked to the death of The Vivienne, real name James Lee Williams.

Someone on ketamine can incur a serious injury and continue on as if nothing happened, exacerbating the problem. Ketamine (often called “K,” “Special K,” or “Vitamin K”) is a potent dissociative anesthetic, meaning it provides feelings of detachment from one’s body. Commonly used in veterinary medicine, this drug has become common on the party scene among those seeking the detached high it provides. Treatment for ketamine addiction often involves some type of psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational enhancement therapy, family therapy, or group therapy. While the drug is largely eliminated from the body within 14 to 18 hours after the last dose, it can also have longer-term effects. People who have used this drug report harsh flashbacks even weeks after the drug has been cleared from the body.

Treatment options

Quitting ketamine alone and abruptly (going ‘cold turkey’) can be dangerous as you may experience seizures, hallucinations, severe anxiety or suicidal thoughts. Receiving professional support, including therapy and detox, improves success rates and offers a safer path to recovery. Ketamine addiction treatment typically begins with a medically-assisted detox, if necessary, to manage withdrawal symptoms in a structured, supervised setting. I asked Dr. Cottler why she is studying KUD now, and she says researchers have been ascertaining issues involved with ketamine and what determines potential addiction. Cottler’s research aims to ensure diagnostic frameworks are reliable across various substances, including ketamine, and are applicable in diverse cultural contexts. The number of people seeking treatment for ketamine addiction in the United Kingdom doubled between 2019 and 2023, from 1,140 to 2,211.

Some of these signs are evident, while others may be hidden or occur gradually. To get the same effects as before, users will resort to consuming more and more. People who use it illegally often snort, smoke, or inject it, or mix it into drinks. Ketamine triggers activity of a neurotransmitter called glutamate in the frontal cortex of your brain. It also allows more synapses, which allow information to flow inside your brain, to form in the same area.