Ketamine for Addictions 

Addiction is unfortunately rampant in our country with over 21 million people suffering from it.

Ketamine for addiction treatments is a new option for help in recovery.

Recent years of clinical studies and research  have given us an abundance of proof that Ketamine

 is fast-acting and helps the brain heal itself.

Ketamine is genuinely unique and like no other medication.

Ketamine for addiction, can be  paired with existing beneficial forms of therapy

, helps people maintain abstinence, reduce compulsive behaviors, and become functional again.

 If you or your loved one suffers from any form of addiction and seek a more fulfilling recovery experience, Ketamine may be right for you. 

Ketamine is effective in treating these addictions:

*Alcohol

*Heroin and Opiates

*Cocaine

*Marijuana

Please Call 904-298-1994 or fill out the online form to get started.

• Quick Results
• Causes growth of New Brain neurons that are frequently atrophied
• Increases Mental Adaptability, causes Neuroplasticity
• Reduces Compulsive Behaviors
• Maintains Abstinence
• Improves Mental, Physical and Social  Wellbeing

An addiction robs a person mentally, physically and socially. It strains interpersonal relationships with family and friends. It causes the body to crave for a drug. Addiction impairs motivation and memory. Addiction causes the person to act compulsively. Chasing the next high becomes an obsession without thinking of or minimizing the bad consequences that follow.

Addictive drugs hijack the reward center of the brain. This is what produces the “high” that addicted users will do almost anything to obtain. The brain’s reward system is designed to encourage behaviors that keep us healthy like eating, exercising, and socializing.

Unfortunately, the reward system can also reinforce pleasurable behaviors that are unhealthy. Intense release of dopamine while taking illicit drugs causes high. Many people chase this high by taking drugs again and again.

Over time, the brain develops a tolerance to the drug/drugs. When this happens, the drugs no longer deliver the same high the addicted person has come to expect. In an attempt to get even a little  high they used to experience, they have to take more of the drug. Later they have to take the drugs just to function, avoid withdrawals and calm their nerves. Long-term substance abuse causes structural changes in the brain. Over time, the brain derives less or no pleasure from exercise, social activities, sexual intimacy, interpersonal relationships with family and friends and even food.

There are many underlying factors that can increase a person’s susceptibility to addiction. Some of the factors we understand are: 

Scientists estimate that a person’s genetics account for up to 60% of their addiction risk. Other biological factors that can impact a person’s addiction risk include ethnicity, gender, and age when they are exposed to drugs. Younger the age of exposure, the higher the risk of addiction. People with mental disorders have a higher risk of addiction and smoking.

Environmental factors can also increase a person’s risk of addiction. The home and school environment are the most important influences throughout childhood. If older family members abuse addictive substances, children may follow in their footsteps. As children grow older and become teenagers, peer pressure  becomes very influential. Teens are at a higher risk of using drugs and becoming addicted to them if their friends use drugs.

In addition to the factors above, there are other risk factors associated with addiction. They include:

•  Peer pressure
•  Lack of supervision
•  Depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders
•  Physical health conditions like deformity, chronic pains
•  Availability of drugs
•  Poverty and frustrations therefrom

Studies show Ketamine can help with addiction by reducing addictive cravings and motivations. It acts on the central nervous system as an n-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. This promising drug has been shown to prolong abstinence from heroin and alcohol. It also allows the brain to rewire itself to allow for
healing.

Ketamine is unlike traditional medications. While some conventional medicines require constant use to have an effect, if any, Ketamine works first to heal the brain. Research shows that Ketamine increases Glutamate in the brain. Glutamate helps the brain create new neural connections and pathways. This increase in Glutamate allows the brain to rewire itself and become more adaptable. As the mind becomes more adaptable and open, healing can occur more fully.

Dr. John Krystal, a Chief Psychiatrist of Yale Medicine, states, “When you take Ketamine, it triggers reactions in your cortex that enable brain connections to regrow. So, it’s the reaction to Ketamine, not the presence of Ketamine in that body, that constitutes its effects.” Ketamine can assist in existing therapy methods for those recovering from addiction by improving brain function and providing an overall antidepressant effect.

Two clinical studies on Ketamine for addiction were recently conducted by Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. One study tested patients with addiction to cocaine and the other alcohol addiction. In both studies, a partial amount of participants was given Ketamine combined with existing forms of therapy. These studies were fueled by the theory that Ketamine triggers glutamate production.

In the cocaine trial, a total of 55 patients received mindfulness-based relapse prevention therapy and either ketamine infusion or a placebo. As a result, 48% of those who received Ketamine maintained abstinence for 2 weeks, compared to the much lower 11% of those who received the placebo and maintained abstinence. In the alcohol trial, 40 alcohol-dependent patients received either Ketamine or a placebo in addition to motivational enhancement therapy. The study stated that Ketamine “significantly increased the likelihood of abstinence, delayed the time to relapse, and reduced the likelihood of heavy drinking days.” Those who conducted these studies hope to continue their research on a larger scale to understand Ketamine for addiction better and obtain even more outstanding results.

Currently, an estimated 21 million people in America are suffering from an addiction. Addiction ranges so broadly, and circumstances are so unique. For those in recovery or looking for recovery, gaining back a higher quality of life is the goal because addiction can lead to death in the most extreme cases. Finding appropriate help and beneficial medications can be difficult. Ketamine is a relatively new option for addiction recovery treatment, however, research proves more and more that Ketamine is effective, fast, and has minimal side effects. To learn more about Ketamine for addiction please call our office for appointment: 904-298-1994.

Ketamine is administered via IM (intramuscular) infusion at our clinics. Each session is monitored closely by a professional and will be in a comfortable setting. A series of 10 sessions is prescribed for a full Ketamine for addiction course. This treatment is customizable, and our clinic will create a treatment plan for you based on your unique circumstances, needs, and budget.

A pre-infusion meeting and post-infusion debriefing occur for all who opt into Ketamine treatments. This ensures that each patient is taken care of from beginning to end. Our clinic takes pride in keeping the Ketamine therapy most affordable. Most insurance companies will not cover the cost of Ketamine for addiction.