Ketamine abuse refers to the recurring use of the drug in a way that causes harm or puts someone at risk (such as while driving, working, or caring for children). However, other researchers have observed ketamine addiction some psychological ketamine come-down effects that may take effect starting a few hours to a few days after last use. For example, someone might use ketamine monthly at parties but easily quit during busy work periods. While still dangerous, this pattern hasn’t yet developed into addiction.

Ketamine abuse can easily turn into ketamine addiction when the body becomes habituated to using it regularly. The more often ketamine is abused, the more likely a person is to develop health problems and addiction. Abusing alcoholism ketamine and being addicted to ketamine share many characteristics, but they are not the same thing.

We’ll work directly with your insurance company to determine your coverage eligibility and maximize the benefits potentially available to you. If you or your loved one has more questions about ketamine addiction and treatment, give our helpline a call today. Yes, ketamine is sometimes used to treat addiction in combination with other treatment services. However, like ketamine infusions for other conditions, ketamine to treat addiction is closely monitored and is pharmaceutical grade. If you suspect that a loved one is struggling with ketamine misuse, early action is critical.

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In contrast, medical use of ketamine, typically for treating depression or chronic pain, carries a lower risk of addiction due to controlled dosing. However, even in medical settings, addiction occurs if the drug is used long-term without proper supervision. Bokor and Anderson (2014) highlight that while physical dependence is rare in medical contexts, it still develops with chronic use, especially in cases of prolonged treatment.

Prescription Drug Addiction: Signs and Side Effects of Prescription Drug Abuse

Some increase their consumption, mixing ketamine with alcohol or other drugs to intensify its effects. Despite physical consequences, such as ketamine bladder damage or cognitive decline, they continue using, trapped in a damaging cycle. Ketamine is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance, meaning it has a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Although ketamine addiction is less common compared to other substance use disorders, it can still happen.

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It is also used in veterinary medicine and sometimes used as “off-label” by physicians to help with treatment resistant depression. Although safe to use in medical practices when administered by a licensed health professional, ketamine can be dangerous when it is misused as a recreational drug. Recreational use is illegal and can have serious health consequences.1 If you use ketamine, you should be aware of its potential health effects and dangers.

As Executive Director, she combines her clinical background with leadership expertise to ensure compliance, quality care, and performance improvement in treatment centers. Ongoing support includes outpatient treatment, relapse prevention planning, and structured sober living. These services help individuals in Las Vegas maintain sobriety by reinforcing coping skills and addressing high-risk triggers. Treatment plans are customized based on clinical needs, relapse history, and mental health status. Ketamine addiction frequently co-occurs with other substance addictions, such as cocaine addiction.

Ketamine is consumed in ways such as snorting, injecting, smoking, or mixing it with beverages. The drug has many street names, including Special K, Vitamin K and Kit Kat. People who trip on ketamine recreationally often say they’ve had a “K-hole” experience. Patients also cannot drive themselves home after treatment since the effects of ketamine can be strong and can last for a few hours.

How to Manage Ketamine Addiction Withdrawal Symptoms?

Physically, individuals go through persistent cravings, tolerance (requiring more of the drug to achieve the same effect), and withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, shaking, or nausea. Behaviorally, there is compulsive use, neglect of responsibilities, and secretive behavior. Psychologically, users struggle with mood swings, anxiety, hallucinations, dissociation, and preoccupation with obtaining and using ketamine. The withdrawal symptoms of ketamine addiction include anxiety, depression, irritability, confusion, insomnia, and intense cravings. These symptoms reflect the brain’s dependence on ketamine’s dissociative effects and require medical supervision during detox. The effects of ketamine are shorter in duration than many other drugs, which often leads to repeated drug use in a single session and raises its addictive potential.

• These substances are added to dilute the ketamine and pose additional health risks to users.
• While other forms of ketamine, such as nasal sprays or intravenous infusions, lead to tolerance and cravings, the slow-release nature of the topical application makes it far less likely to develop such issues.
• The BMJ evidence supports the pioneering ketamine research of the University of Florida’s Dr. Linda Cottler and NYU’s Dr. Joseph Palamar.

• This helps explain why some people develop dependence while others do not.
• It can be difficult to know exactly how a drug will interact in your body, in varying circumstances.
• The ease of access and self-administration increases the potential for misuse, especially if patients begin to crave the drug’s mood-enhancing effects.
• These symptoms vary in severity and presentation from person to person, but their presence indicates a developing or established ketamine addiction that requires professional intervention and support.

It can also be helpful to reach out for help from a treatment program that can provide the support and structure necessary to stop using ketamine safely. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness; it is an act of strength and self-care that can set you on the pathway to healing. If you notice that you are having trouble controlling your ketamine use, experiencing cravings, or seeing it interfere with your life, know that you are not alone.

Recognising the signs of ketamine addiction

Ketamine works primarily as an NMDA receptor antagonist, blocking receptors in the brain that regulate memory, mood, and pain perception. This disruption produces dissociative effects — detachment from reality, body, or surroundings. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic in the arylcyclohexylamine class that doctors, hospitals, and mental health clinics use for anesthesia, pain management, and treatment-resistant depression. Originally developed in the 1960s for surgical anesthesia, ketamine is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an essential medicine. Its early use as a cat tranquilizer and on battlefields during the Vietnam War demonstrated both its medical benefits and its addictive potential.