Ketamine is a fast-acting drug that’s used medically as an anaesthetic due to its painkilling properties. It’s also used illegally as a recreational drug, with street names like K, Vitamin K or Ket.
Ketamine is particularly popular with younger people, often due to it being cheaper and other ‘party drugs’ like cocaine or MDMA (ecstasy). Ketamine use has risen steadily, with UK government statistics showing that the number of adults entering treatment in 2022 to 2023 with ketamine abuse problems was five times higher than it was in 2014 to 2015.
Ketamine users may not realise they’ve developed an addiction. Frequent ketamine use often leads to cravings and increased tolerance, meaning that the person needs larger doses to produce the same effects. The long-term effects of ketamine on the brain and body can be severe. However, ketamine addiction is treatable with the right support.
There are several key signs that suggest you might need support for your ketamine use. Ketamine addiction symptoms can be physical, psychological and behavioural/social.
It’s important that you or your loved one get professional treatment for ketamine addiction, so you’re supported during the withdrawal process and receive therapy to understand why and how your addiction developed in the first place.
Working with trained addiction specialists is recommended as you work towards long-term recovery. Here are the stages of the treatment process:
A medically assisted detox is a crucial stage in the ketamine addiction treatment process, as it helps you to safely withdraw from the drug in a controlled and medically supervised way, with round-the-clock support.
The drug detoxification process removes all traces of ketamine from your body, while helping you to manage your withdrawal symptoms. The withdrawal symptoms you experience as part of the detox process can vary depending on how much ketamine you’ve been taking and for how long.
Detox for ketamine lays the foundation for intensive addiction therapy, which you’ll be able to start as soon as you’re physically stable.
Once detox is complete, the next stage of treatment is therapy. Therapeutic interventions are designed to help you manage your cravings, address any underlying mental health issues that may be contributing towards you addiction, and help you rebuild a balanced life.
Typical therapies used in ketamine addiction treatment include:
Treatment for ketamine addiction is available on an inpatient or an outpatient basis, depending on the individual needs of you or your loved one.
Treatment journeys can be personalised to suit individual needs and circumstances. While some people may benefit from starting with intensive inpatient care, others with less severe ketamine use might enter treatment at a lower intensity, such as outpatient therapy or day care programmes.
Ketamine addiction rehab typically takes place as part of Priory’s comprehensive inpatient addiction treatment programme. This consists of a 28-day residential stay at one of our specialist hospital sites, where you or your loved one will receive round-the-clock support from our experienced teams who all have extensive expertise in treating addiction.
Treatment takes place in comfortable surroundings, designed to support recovery and make you feel at home. Following treatment, we offer step-down care, if needed, and provide free aftercare for 12 months to everyone who completed a 28-day stay with us.#
Choosing private treatment at Priory offers several benefits, including:
Treatment can be paid for through private medical insurance or you can self-fund your treatment at Priory. Our free initial assessment is an opportunity to discuss your concerns with a specialist and explore the most appropriate treatment options for you or your loved one.
Free addiction treatment can be accessed through public and charitable organisations. These options include:
Whether you opt for private or free treatment for you or your loved one, seeking professional help is a vital step toward recovery. The sooner you reach out, the sooner you can begin building a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Twenty eight days is the recommended treatment time for ketamine addiction, but the length of the addiction treatment you receive at Priory can be flexible according to your condition, requirements and commitments.
You may experience withdrawal symptoms during rehab. At Priory, we offer a medically assisted detoxification process that will minimise any withdrawal symptoms and make the process as comfortable as possible.
If you’re in rehab as an inpatient, it’s not possible to work during treatment. However, accessing treatment via outpatient therapy or day care means you can maintain some of your daily responsibilities while also receiving treatment.
Priory offers free addiction aftercare for 12 months to everyone who has completed our 28-day addiction treatment programme. Aftercare consists of ongoing access to support and therapy groups, family support, help with your continuing care plan, and alumni events where you can meet with other recovering addicts. Find out more about what happens after rehab.
The first step is a free addiction assessment with a member of our addiction treatment team – you don’t need a GP referral for this. During this, we’ll be able to assess your needs and advise on next steps.
