How to Stop Ketamine Addiction

There are several effective treatment methods for those exploring how to stop ketamine addiction.

Do you or a loved one suffer from drug addiction? Do you fear that you are addicted to multiple drugs, and wonder if ketamine is one of them? Below you will find information that lists common ketamine addiction symptoms, the effects of this drug, and what methods are used in effective ketamine addiction treatment. Understanding the facts about this dangerous narcotic, is necessary in order to learn how to stop ketamine addiction in its tracks.

On the streets, where it is sold illegally, ketamine is often referred to as K, special K, ket, and vitamin K.  Ketamine is an anesthetic and a painkiller that is used mainly in veterinary practices prior to surgery on animals. It is also used in hospital settings, but to a much lesser extent. Ketamine is also considered a hallucinogen as well as a dissociative drug that is similar to laughing gas. Dissociative drugs make the user feel as though he or she is having an out-of-body experience. Ketamine has dangerous side effects when used recreationally, including:

• Double vision or hallucinations
• Difficulty breathing
• Feeling disoriented
• Impaired motor function or feelings of paralysis
• Elevated heart rate
• Nausea and vomiting

It is important to understand how to stop ketamine addiction because abuse of this drug can result in long-term physical and mental impairments. Ketamine addiction is known to escalate quickly. ketamine addiction symptoms and signs of abuse include:

• Feeling mentally drained and unstable, yet looking to take more of the drug in order to feel good again.
• Using more and more of the drug as time goes on to experience its full effects. This is a sign that the body and mind are developing a tolerance to the current dose being ingested.
• Amnesia, visual problems, abnormal heart rhythms, and vivid dreams – all of which are commonly associated with long-term use.
• Flashbacks and social withdrawal.
• Passing blood in urine and other bladder problems.
• Frequent feelings of moodiness, depression and/or anxiety.

Because ketamine is primarily used in veterinary settings, what is obtained illegally on the streets, is often stolen from veterinarian practices. While the effects of ketamine usually wear off after 30 minutes or so, the side effects of the drug are experienced long afterward. This drug is available in many forms, but it is manufactured as an odorless and tasteless liquid. It is often converted into a white powder when sold illegally on the streets. In these forms, it can easily be slipped into someone’s drink in a social setting without raising any awareness, earning ketamine the label of being a date rape drug as it renders a person helpless to sexual assault.

How to stop ketamine addiction? The methods used in ketamine addiction treatment differ from patient to patient, depending on the individual’s age, gender, the length and severity of their addiction, and if there are any other co-existing addictions and disorders. Treatment can be obtained in an outpatient, residential, or hospital setting. The long-term cognitive and psychological effects of this drug can be debilitating, and may include mental instability and even psychosis, making it difficult for the recovering addict to make choices that are in his or her best interests. Ketamine addiction treatment may include the following modalities:

• Individual, group, and family therapy
• 12 Step Education
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Biofeedback and Neurofeedback
• Medication management
• Hypnotherapy
• Anger management 

How to stop ketamine addiction? This type of addiction requires full cooperation from the individual seeking recovery. While treatment options vary, one of the most successful methods is an inpatient treatment setting at a qualified residential facility. This setting removes the patient from his or her current living situation where detox can be safely and medically supervised. An individual in recovery for ketamine addiction symptoms is like any other addict in recovery. Ketamine addiction treatment must continue long after detox and the newly sober individual must continue participation in various types of therapy.  A continuous effort to maintain recovery by staying accountable with the support of family and friends must be made in order to be successful.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.