Ketamine

Call Now To Get On The Road To Recovery

*As required by law, all communications with Resurgence Behavioral Health are HIPAA Compliant and 100% Confidential

Ketamine Addiction

A drug used for surgery anesthesia is being abused more than we may be aware of. The hallucinogen effects of this drug are what fuels Ketamine addiction. First responders and law enforcement officers are familiar with Ketamine because it helps restrain those who are a danger to themselves and others. This drug is also known as the “date rape” drug.

The abuse of Ketamine, along with addiction, overdose, and withdrawal of this drug, has yet to be studied in-depth. Although research is currently underway, there are limited resources on the facts and statistics of the illicit use and trade of Ketamine.

What is Ketamine?

Is Ketamine a stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogen? It is classified as an anesthetic sedative. However, some will argue that it inconsistently acts as a combination of all three. When administered, Ketamine causes you to feel as if you are “out of body,” which is known as “dissociative anesthesia.”

Ketamine was developed in the mid-1960s. It was not until 1964 that the first human was given this drug. During the Vietnam war, Ketamine was widely used for battlefield treatment. As Ketamine entered the drug industry for medical use during the 1970s, drug dealers began intercepting shipments of the drug to be sold on the black market for illicit drug use, leading the Ketamine abuse. In 1999, this drug was officially placed on the list of controlled substances because of widespread abuse.

The misuse of Ketamine is increasingly gaining momentum in the U.S.; there are no records of how many people use Ketamine. As of 2015, approximately 1.1% of people over the age of 12 admitted to using Ketamine.

Uses of Ketamine

Anesthesia

The drug renders a person immobile, and although alert and breathing, they feel nothing, and they have no memory while the drug is active in their system. Ketamine is one of many drugs an anesthesiologist or physician uses to sedate someone before surgery or a painful procedure.

• Surgery
• Burn Treatments (debridement)
• Medical Procedures

Acute Agitation

First responders (paramedics) rely on Ketamine to subdue patients who pose a high risk of harming themselves or others. Emergency physicians must use Ketamine for patients who suddenly have acute pain that causes a severe state of agitation.

Pain

Ketamine is used to relieve acute pain, such as serious injuries resulting from car accidents or accidents involving bone or limb trauma. Cancer patients are also given Ketamine to help relieve pain.

Mental Therapeutic Treatment

Physicians use Ketamine to treat several psychiatric/mental disorders that include depression, post-traumatic stress, and schizophrenia. Ketamine is gaining momentum as a drug used for depression. Severe depression that produces suicidal behavior benefits because of Ketamine’s immediate effects. The FDA approved a nasal spray of Ketamine for depression patients who otherwise do not respond to other medications.

Brand Names of Ketamine

• Ketamine Hydrochloride
• Ketaset
• Ketalar
• Ketalar SV
• Ketanest
• Ketanest S
• Vetalar
• Ketaject
• Esketemine
• Spravato

Street Names of Ketamine

• Special K
• K
• Vitamin K
• Super K
• Cat Valium
• Jet K
• Super Acid
• Green
• Kit Kat
• Purple

Ketamine Abuse

The hallucinogenic side effects that Ketamine produces is what abusers seek out. Supercharged environments such as concerts, nightclubs, raves, and parties prevalently have Ketamine present.

How Ketamine is Abused

Pharmaceutical companies typically manufacture Ketamine as an injectable liquid in small vials. When used frequently, Ketamine abuse can occur in many cases.

Powder Form

The liquid in the vial is cooked over hot plates, which reduces the drug into crystals. Those crystals are ground until they become powder. The powdered Ketamine is then cut into lines of which a user can snort. The powder can also be incorporated into marijuana or tobacco and smoked. Other dangerous drugs such as amphetamines, methamphetamines, or cocaine are combined with Ketamine to produce a host of “wild” and deadly side effects.

Liquid Form

The liquid from a vial of injectable Ketamine is transferred into smaller containers making this drug highly portable. Someone can easily dump one of these smaller containers of Ketamine into a drink to use. This heinous act is how date rapes can easily occur. This drug can unknowingly be dumped into your drink without you even realizing it.

References to Side Effects of Ketamine

Users of Ketamine have specific references for what “dimension” of side effects they desire when buying the drug illicitly. By describing what kind of “trip” you want, your Ketamine is tailored by the addition of other drugs.

Low Dose:

• “K-Land” (a virgin experience of relaxation with colors intensified)

High/Dangerous Dose:

• “K-Hole” (an experience that makes you feel out of body, near-death)
• “God” (an experience that is highly dangerous because users claim they meet God)

High Dose:

• “Baby Food” (users refer to this as feeling contently suspended)

Side Effects of Ketamine Abuse

Acute Side Effects:

Immediate:

• Rapid heartbeat (lasting up to 20 minutes)
• High blood pressure (lasting up to 20 minutes)
• Hallucinations (lasting up to 1 hour or continue for weeks)
• Absence of pain
• Out of body sensation
• Amnesia
• Distorted senses (sight and hearing)
• Inability to move
• Unconsciousness
• Unresponsive
• Rapid eye movement
• Dilated pupils
• Muscle rigidity
• Nausea
• Drooling
• Depressed breathing
• Overdose
• Death

Long-Term Side Effects:

• Bladder issues: pain, inflammation, ulcers
• Liver damage
• Kidney damage
• Abdominal pain
• Depression
• Flashbacks
• Concentration deficits

Overdose:

Acute side effects can also indicate an overdose. There is little known about the exact symptoms of overdose, which makes Ketamine a highly dangerous drug to use recreationally or chronically because it often leads to Ketamine abuse.

Addiction:

• Withdrawal symptoms
• DTs (delirium tremens)
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Shaking
• Anxiety
• Panic
• Depression
• Lack of appetite
• Overall physical pain
• Death

Mental Illness and Ketamine Addiction

Ketamine (low doses) is useful in treating patients who do not respond to other medications. There is still much to learn about how mental disorders, including schizophrenia, benefit from Ketamine therapy. The illicit use of Ketamine is persistently increasing, causing grave concern about the dangerous side effects this drug causes. Users resort to varied dosing to obtain a specific “trip.” Unfortunately, the side effects can also indicate overdose that can quickly lead to death.

Treatment for Ketamine Addiction

If you are struggling with a Ketamine addiction, we cannot stress enough how vital it is to get help. You have no way of knowing if that next dose will be your last. Ketamine has never been intended for recreational use because of the powerful effects on the physical body.

Please do not minimize your Ketamine use or addiction. Get help today.

Resurgence is specialized in treating Ketamine addictions. The atmosphere here at Resurgence is a place that is peaceful and healing with a family-like environment that embraces you the moment you arrive. People from all walks of life come through our doors for help.

You will have a choice in standard, executive, or luxury accommodations along with varied treatment programs that include faith-based and holistic. Detox can be done in a manner that keeps you comfortable. You will meet with team members throughout your time here to help you develop the skills and abilities that will help you once you leave the center. While you are a resident here, you will undergo detox, therapies, counseling, and group therapy sessions.

Our treatment approach is through evidence-based therapies that include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Partial hospitalization is something you will advance into as you slowly work your way back out in the world. Following this, you will go on to outpatient therapy to continue your therapies at scheduled visits.

Payment and Insurance

We will gladly contact your insurance provider to verify coverage. We accept most PPO insurances. If you do not see your insurance in our listing below, give us a call. Payment options include private pay and payment plans. Online payments are accepted through our secure online payment service.

• Assurant Health
• Vista Insurance Partners
• Humana
• Ameritas Group
• Health Net
• Cigna
• Horizon Blue Cross
• Premera Blue Cross
• Blue Cross Blue Shield

Please get the help you need. We are standing by waiting, so make that call today.