Ketamine Addiction Treatment

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 is a hallucinogen and carries a dissociative effect, as well as the possibility for addiction which will result in the need for ketamine addiction treatment.

Because it is a Schedule III drug, it means that it does have medically accepted uses but also has potential for abuse.

Ketamine is a low to moderate risk for physical dependence, but there is a higher risk for psychological addiction potential.

Ketamine can be extremely dangerous.

Not only has it been used to sexually assault individuals, but also has been known to cause accidents, falls, and of course the need for ketamine addiction treatment.

With long-term negative effects on the body and brain occurring from long term use, ketamine is extremely dangerous.

Medical Use vs Illicit Use

Ketamine has a few medical uses. The first is as a pain-relieving medication or an anesthetic. Although it is not considered a tranquilizer, it may also be used as an antidepressant in severe depression cases. This is not common due to the fact that it is addictive.

When looking into illicit uses of ketamine, is it often taken as a “club drug ”. Ketamine can be taken orally, snorted, smoked inside of a cigarette or with marijuana, vaporized, mixed into beverages, or injected. When taking Ketamine recreationally, it can be extremely strong, and even hallucinogenic or dissociative. It is also known to elevate mood.

Ketamine Abuse Symptoms

When you learn that you need ketamine addiction treatment or another drug rehab, it might be confusing. This is because addiction is a complex illness. Typically addiction involves both physical and behavioral symptoms, that is characterized by the inability to stop using. This use most likely will begin to interfere with your normal ability to function, and you will also see symptoms. Physical symptoms directly affect the body, while behavioral symptoms affect the way you act.

Behavioral Symptoms of Ketamine Addiction

Behavioral symptoms of ketamine addiction are very important to diagnose, as they can be another sign of addiction that you can bring to ketamine addiction treatment centers.

• Not committing to school or work
• Poor performance in work or school.
• Buying ketamine illegally.
• Changing friend groups.
• Isolation.
• Suspicious behavior.
• Legal issues because of ketamine use.
• Lying about how much you use.
• Mood swings.
• New financial difficulties.
• Using ketamine instead of performing responsibilities.
• Quitting hobbies in order to use ketamine.
• Responding to hallucinations.
• Broken relationships due to ketamine use.
• Sudden changes in personality.
• Taking risks.
• Increased use.

Physical Symptoms of Ketamine Addiction

It is good to note that a diagnosis can never be based solely on physical symptoms. These can only be warning signs that you are struggling with an addiction. These red flags might include:

• Chronic cough from smoking ketamine.
• Chronic stuffy nose or nose bleeds from snorting ketamine.
• Abscesses and track marks if ketamine is injected.
• Changes in eating, hygiene, or sleep patterns.
• Increased pain tolerance.
• Numbness.
• Dilated pupils.
• Increased saliva and tear production.
• Sedation.
• Slurred speech.
• Stiffened muscles.
• Uncontrollable and rapid eye movements.
• Withdrawal from non-use.

Ketamine Withdrawal

Unlike other drugs, ketamine withdrawal is somewhat short, usually lasting between four to five days. Medical detox can be very helpful to avoid painful withdrawal symptoms. There are no specific medications approved for treating ketamine withdrawal in ketamine addiction treatment centers, but medical detox does allow staff to prescribe medications.

These medications in ketamine addiction treatment can relieve some of the more dangerous symptoms of withdrawal. Medical detox also provides a safe place to begin your road to recovery.

Side-Effects of Ketamine Leading to Ketamine Addiction Treatment

Ketamine affects the mind and body in many different ways. These side-effects sometimes appear immediately after use, while others only begin to occur after frequent and long-term use. Some of these short-term effects feel good, which means ketamine becomes more likely to be abused.

Short-Term Side Effects of Ketamine

Using ketamine can be extremely dangerous, even if you only use it one time. Ketamine is also commonly combined with other substances. When it is combined with other substances, especially depressants, it can increase the risk of harmful side effects and lead to overdose. Side effects might include:

• Anxiety
• Cognitive issues
• Agitation
• Confusion
• Impaired judgment and impulse control
• Elevated blood pressure
• Risk of falls or accidents.
• Memory loss.
• High body temperature.
• Psychosis
• Paranoia
• Hallucinations,
• Trouble organizing thoughts
• Loss of consciousness
• Breathing troubles
• Seizures

The effects of ketamine typically begin within 30 minutes of ingestion, but this depends on the method of ingestion. Ketamine generally lasts for one hour.

Long-Term Side Effects of Ketamine

Over time, chronic ketamine use affects both the body and the mind. This leads to terrible long term side effects such as:

• Addiction
• Attention issues
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Flashbacks
• Risk of heart attack
• General heart problems
• Tolerance
• Kidney trouble
• Memory problems
• Bladder pain and ulcers

Mental Illness and Ketamine Addiction Treatment

Half of all drug users struggle with a mental illness. When you do suffer from mental illness at the same time as a drug abuse disorder, this is called a dual-diagnosis. Co-occurring disorders are dangerous and require a higher level of care than for someone without a dual diagnosis. This is why you must go to a treatment facility that offers the opportunity to treat both your ketamine addiction, as well as your mental health condition.

Types of Ketamine Addiction Treatment

Ketamine addiction is very hard to overcome. Many ketamine addiction treatment programs offer inpatient, outpatient, and detox programs. These inpatient ketamine addiction treatment programs range from 28 days to 60, 90, or even up to 6 months. During inpatient ketamine addiction treatment programs you live at the treatment facility, which is why it is often known as residential treatment. Outpatient programs typically last longer, because they allow you to live at home, and simply visit the center for your ketamine addiction treatment.

Because ketamine dependence is a psychological addiction, it often involves different forms of behavioral therapies.

These include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Known as CBT, these therapies address the thinking patterns that affect behaviors.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy: Known as DBT, these therapies introduce mindful awareness and stress management.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Known as ACT, these therapies combine mindfulness and acceptance, in order to commit to behavior change strategies.

Why Ketamine Addiction Treatment?

Getting professional ketamine addiction treatment is the best way to make sure you recover successfully. The only catch with ketamine addiction treatment is that you must be completely committed to getting sober.

Ketamine detox is not fun, because it offers very unpredictable psychotic behaviors during withdrawal. You may also feel intense cravings. By having careful monitoring by medical staff, you will have a better chance at a successful recovery.

After treatment, you should also put into place a sober community. This might include an accountability group such as sober friends, family, or support groups like Narcotics Anonymous, and SMART.

Are You in Need of Ketamine Addiction Treatment?

Do you recognize any symptoms in yourself that align with a ketamine addiction? Are you looking for help but unsure of where to start? If you are concerned that you or a loved one has an addiction to ketamine, ketamine recovery centers can help you.

Contact us at Resurgence Behavioral Health to learn more about ketamine addiction treatment and our free insurance verification for treatment.