Ketamine, first synthesized in 1963, is classified as a dissociative anesthetic and is most commonly used in medicinations to commence and maintain anesthesia. It can also be used for sedation, as an analgesic, to remedy bronchospasm, and as an antidepressant. It is also, however, used as a recreational drug for its psychological effects. Ketamine has most prominently affected adolescents and young adults. In fact, in the U.S. in 2010, 1% of eighth-graders, 1.1% of tenth-graders, and 1.6% of twelfth-graders reported abusing ketamine at least once. According to a survey on national drug awareness, over the past decade, a higher proportion of teenagers and adolescents have tried ketamine than adults. Ketamine is a tasteless and odorless white or off-white powder which, when used recreationally, is often added to beverages. It also comes in a clear liquid form which is injected or sometimes left to evaporate in order to transform it into powder so it can be snorted. However, ketamine can induce amnesia in many users, especially women, garnering it a reputation as a "date rape" drug. Some of the most profound effects of ketamine include allergic reactions, brain damage, and physical and psychological dependency. People who regularly abuse ketamine often find it hard to organize their lifestyle properly, which makes it difficult for them to stay away from the drug. They become obsessed with the next dose rather than mingling with others and building social relationships. They also tend to isolate themselves from other people or society as a whole in order to indulge in ketamine alone.
Getting the right ketamine addiction treatment
It is imperative to contact a drug treatment center when dealing with ketamine addiction. The right ketamine addiction treatment involves a combination of therapy, medication, and detox. If you want to know where to find the best ketamine addiction treatment centers in the country, contact a Recovery Expert at
(877) 257-7997 . Recovery Experts specialize in providing clear, precise information to clients. They know which treatment centers can offer you the right treatment for your specific drug addiction.
Fast facts about ketamine addiction
The effects of more mainstream illegal substances like cocaine, heroin, and LSD are widely known, but ketamine, GHB, and other "club drugs" remain relatively obscure. The more you know about ketamine, symptoms and treatment, the more informed your decision to seek help will be. Below are some fast facts on ketamine which can provide you with useful information as you or a loved one start down the road toward recovery.
- Ketamine's strong psychedelic and hallucinogenic effects have been compared to phencyclidine, or PCP. In fact, ketamine was synthesized as an intended replacement for PCP. Ketamine is still used as an anesthetic in modern hospitals and veterinary clinics. The drug can be inhaled and injected, but more commonly it is consumed as a liquid or a pill.
- Ketamine's physical effects include euphoria and numbness, while its psychological effects are often out-of-body experiences, detachment from reality, and powerful hallucinations, similar to LSD or peyote--though the period of hallucination is usually much shorter in duration.
- At extremely high doses of ketamine, the user is said to experience "indescribable" worlds and dimensions apart from the normal plane of reality. Often terrifying, these out-of-body experiences can become near-death experiences when a user partly or wholly forgets their personal identity, loses all perception of time, and forgets about the "real world." This is known as a "K-hole" experience.
- Even though the ketamine high is brief compared to other substances, the effects of the drug are slow to wear off. A user only gradually regains their perception of time and reality. Amnesia can sometimes be a side-effect of heavy ketamine use and users may have short-term difficulty remembering their names, where they are, or what they were doing before taking the drug. Depression can also occur as the real world settles back into a user's consciousness.
What can you expect from ketamine addiction treatment?
Ketamine addiction treatment may vary from one patient to another, especially when emotional or psychological conditions are involved. Treatment centers should be able to provide both short and long-term treatment options for their patients. To help bar a ketamine-dependent individual from regular access to the drug, many ketamine addiction treatment centers offer round-the-clock residential care or intensive outpatient treatment. These popular and effective ketamine addiction treatment options can be summarized as:
- Residential Ketamine Addiction Treatment. This type of treatment offers patients the opportunity to rid themselves from the destructive habit of regular ketamine use by separating them from the distractions of their current environment. Through the residential treatment approach, the patient is immersed in a therapeutic community where other recovering individuals are also present. In addition, the residential treatment plan allows the patient to stay inside the facility and fully utilize the span of their recovery via the help and guidance of the in-house professional staff, such as nurses, counselors, therapists, psychiatrists, and other medical personnel.
- Intensive Outpatient Ketamine Addiction Treatment. This type of treatment program extends care to patients three to five days per week. The program allows patients to attend a treatment session or participate in group therapy and then go back to their normal routines, such as work or family affairs, after the daily treatment has concluded. The intensive outpatient approach encourages active involvement in a 12-step program to prevent or lessen the chances for relapse. Experts believe that intensive outpatient treatment can be more effective than any other individual therapy for drug addiction.
Get the best referral from RecoveryExperts.com
If you think someone is in need of ketamine addiction treatment, call our referral hotline at
877-257-7997 in order to acquire essential information on where and how to get the right ketamine addiction treatment. RecoveryExperts.com can assist you in selecting the best rehab center to treat all your ketamine dependency problems. It doesn't matter if you or someone you know is fighting a physical dependency on a substance or a psychological one. The addiction must end. Don't wait until it's too late. Contact RecoveryExperts.com today.
