Ketamine Rehabilitation and Treatment

This guide was written to provide an overview of the ketamine rehabilitation process as well as to offer helpful resources for persons recovering from ketamine addiction.

People abusing hallucinogens should first receive a psychological evaluation. Then, detoxification is the first step in the rehabilitation and treatment process. Ketamine detoxification can be difficult due to unpredictable psychotic behaviors and intense cravings that may occur during withdrawal. Professional monitoring by medical staff is crucial for a safer withdrawal and detox process. As of 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had not approved any medications to treat addiction to ketamine or other dissociative drugs, but specific withdrawal symptoms are sometimes treated with proven medications.

Like other substance abuse treatments, behavioral therapies may help you recognize the reasons why you abuse ketamine and help you find better ways to relieve stress and/or have fun. Common therapy options used in addiction counseling include cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy, which help you learn how to address thinking patterns that impact your behaviors and teach you other ways to cope without using drugs. Recovery-based support groups also play an integral role after completing treatment.

Due to a low to moderate potential for physical and psychological dependence, ketamine is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance, making it illegal to possess it without a prescription. Although punitive legal measures vary by state, federal penalties are severe. For a first offense of possession of any Schedule III drug, you may face a fine of up to $250,000 and/or up to five years in prison. Subsequent possession offenses and charges for possession with the intent to distribute, distribution, and manufacturing all carry even stiffer penalties.

Although estimates of global usage are limited, many countries report hallucinogen use to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Most countries don’t break down hallucinogen use into specific types of drugs, but of those that did in 2019, ketamine use was mainly reported in South-East Asia. This included increased usage in Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand. Australia also reported a slight increase in use following a period of relative stability, and England and Wales reported a significant increase of ketamine use between 2016/17 and 2017/18 with a jump from 1.2% to 3.1% among people ages 16 to 24.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates in 2018 that:

• 3,622,000 people 12 years of age and older — 1.3% of the population — used ketamine.
• 273,000 people 12 years of age and older — 0.1% — were in need of treatment for a hallucinogen use disorder.
• 288,000 people 12 years of age and older — 7.7% — in need of treatment enrolled in a rehabilitation program for hallucinogen abuse.

Detoxification is the process of eliminating a specific substance from your body, which starts as soon as you stop taking the substance and ends when no trace of the substance is left in your bloodstream. Because it’s best to stop using ketamine cold turkey, detox can be extremely difficult to endure and includes intense cravings and psychological discomfort.

The initial comedown/detox from ketamine should begin within 24 hours, which generally is the maximum length of time it takes for the total elimination of the drug from your bloodstream. Although withdrawal symptoms vary, early symptoms often include fatigue, chills, sweating, tremors, irregular heartbeat, and loss of appetite. Withdrawal usually lasts four to six days with psychological withdrawal symptoms being the most dangerous. These can include intense depression that may increase suicide risk, flashbacks, hallucinations, and psychosis. Although withdrawal symptoms are usually not as severe as they are for many other drugs, overall dissatisfaction with life and strong cravings to continue using the drug make detox difficult.

There’s limited research on the management of ketamine withdrawal, and the FDA has yet to approve any medications for the treatment of ketamine addiction. However, some rehab programs may attempt to relieve specific symptoms with proven medications. An antidepressant may be prescribed to counter depression, or a glutamate release inhibitor may help with depression and cravings. If you display extreme anxiety or agitation, you may be given benzodiazepines to control these symptoms. Supportive care, especially intravenous fluids, is another vital part of the recovery process.

For more information about withdrawal, read our guide on Ketamine Addiction.

Many types of behavioral therapies may be helpful in treating ketamine addiction, including those that help you recognize the reasons for your ketamine abuse and address new ways of relieving stress. Popular therapy choices include cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy to help you change your feelings and thoughts about hallucinogen use and find new ways to cope. Motivational interviewing has also helped some people stop using ketamine.

Currently, there aren’t any established treatments for ketamine addiction or any FDA-approved drugs for treating ketamine addiction. However, rehab programs may offer various medications proven to alleviate specific symptoms as medication assistance during withdrawal. These medications may make detox more comfortable, but they’re ceased after the symptom it treats disappears.

Within either an inpatient or outpatient setting, treatments such as detoxification services, behavioral therapies, and medication-assisted treatments are offered for varying lengths of time.

Inpatient treatment involves living full time (including overnight) at a treatment facility for a set time period. Outpatient treatment involves scheduled appointments at a facility in which you are free to come and go. Within each category, there are several distinctions.

Behavioral therapy for substance addiction seeks to identify and manage addictive behaviors that lead to abuse and prevent relapse. Behavioral therapy is based on the concept that all behavior is learned, and thus, unhealthy behavior can be changed through learning coping skills and increasing awareness of negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to substance abuse.

For some substances, such as opioids, medication-assisted treatment can help ease withdrawal symptoms, reverse changes caused by addiction, relieve cravings, block euphoric effects, and help sustain recovery. Because there aren’t any FDA-approved medications for ketamine addiction, the primary purpose of medication-assisted treatment for this substance is to treat individual symptoms of withdrawal with medications known to help alleviate these symptoms. Treatment may include an antidepressant, antipsychotic, anticonvulsant, and/or antianxiety medication.

While it may be less common for ketamine addiction to occur, it’s still a distinct possibility for chronic and/or long-term users, and more people are seeking rehabilitation and treatment each year. Due to limited information about the best treatment methods and an increased need for it, more research may soon be forthcoming.

When used by medical professionals, ketamine is a safe, effective anesthetic and pain reliever, among other things. However, when it’s abused and you’ve become addicted, it’s important to find a rehabilitation center that specializes in ketamine rehabilitation and treatment. Choose an addiction expert with a customized individual approach and solid continuing care services following your discharge.

Our directory of rehab programs includes a comprehensive list of available treatment centers and programs as provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In the directory, you will find tools to filter the programs by setting, price, and location.