Often occurring as a grainy white or light brown powder, ketamine is typically used in the field of medicine for anaesthetic purposes in humans and other animals.
However, due to its addictive qualities as a recreational substance, an increasing number of individuals are becoming addicted and requiring further support in the treatment of this.
When an individual is addicted, they will continuously seek out ketamine in order to gain the same effects that they may have experienced during their first few times consuming the substance, despite the negative consequences that may have arisen as a result of this past consumption.
Addiction can quickly worsen over a short period of time due to the cycle of consumption that it creates, meaning that seeking ketamine rehabilitation is essential to avoid future health complications.
This web page will focus on the process of ketamine rehab, as well as covering the effects of ketamine and how these may be treated during ketamine rehab in Brighton.
In general, ketamine rehab in Brighton is suitable for any individual who feels as though they are struggling with their ketamine consumption and/or is experiencing adverse reactions as a result of this.
Regular and heavy ketamine consumption, for example, is always recommended to follow the route of ketamine rehab and further treatment.
However, it may also be the case that individuals feel that they need support for their ketamine consumption habits even if they are not yet experiencing serious and daily life-impacting effects.
In short, all individuals who feel as though they may need support for their ketamine consumption, as well as those who are in denial of their situation, are eligible for ketamine rehab in Brighton and should seek help as soon as possible.
Residential rehabilitation is known to be the most effective form of rehabilitation for individuals in terms of the efficiency and effectiveness of this type of care, but this may not be necessary or suitable in every single case of ketamine addiction in Brighton.
While ketamine is not physically addictive like substances such as heroin and other opioids, generally making the process of rehabilitation less life-threatening (in some cases), residential rehab may be offered to many individuals.
If an individual is not suitable for residential rehab, or if their needs are not requiring of residential care, there are several other forms of rehabilitation in Brighton that these individuals may attend.
Outpatient care, for example, can include regular therapy sessions (including individual and group therapy), as well as other treatments that can be attended on a part-time basis and outside of the residential rehab centre setting.
In most cases, and in order to get the most out of rehabilitative care in Brighton, an individual should ensure that the following three stages of rehab are covered (outlined in the following subheadings):
As the first stage of any rehabilitation programme in Brighton (or elsewhere), withdrawing from the substance that they are addicted to is the first step that individuals must take.
This is because without detoxification, individuals will continue to continue to consume the substance that they are addicted to, meaning that the effects of this will impact their ongoing recovery and treatment programmes.
During a ketamine detoxification, most individuals will be encouraged to go ‘cold turkey’ i.e., completely cutting out ketamine from their routine in a sudden change.
However, in more serious cases and more dependent addictions, individuals will be encouraged to cut down slowly on ketamine over time in order to negate any physical health impacts, as well as to ensure that the individual’s withdrawal has a strong neuro-pharmacological basis (2).
Detoxification should always be fully supervised and supported, no matter how serious or trivial the addiction may be. This is to ensure the physical wellbeing of the individual involved.
Every individual will have a different programme of treatments during their time in ketamine rehab in Brighton due to the different impacts that they may be experiencing as well as their own personal differences.
However, commonly employed treatments may include the following:
In all cases of ketamine rehab in Brighton, it is also vital that every individual seeks further and ongoing support in the form of aftercare.
This ensures that an individual stays on track during their ketamine rehabilitation and recovery process and can be as hands-off or as dependent as each individual requires.
Most residential rehab programmes will include complimentary aftercare programmes, but this is always vital to check before beginning any type of specific care.
Every individual is likely to have a different experience of ketamine consumption, and this is due to many different factors.
For example, an individual’s age, height, weight, sex, and personal health can all influence how ketamine is metabolised in the body, leading to a number of different impacts that can last varying periods of time.
However, an individual’s mental health can also contribute to how the effects of ketamine are felt, as well as the quantities in which they consume the substance.
The following two subheadings outline the effects of ketamine in terms of short- and long-term impacts.
As with most addictive substances, the short-term impacts of ketamine consumption are often positive, leading the individual to seek more and more of the substance due to the association with these positive impacts.
For ketamine specifically, the short-term impacts are often mentally based, meaning that individuals may feel some of the following effects:
In addition to these mental health impacts, an individual may also feel physical effects such as nausea or needing to be sick, as well as numbness of the body, leading to dangers in navigating the world around them.
This can be especially dangerous to an individual’s health as they may not know where they are or how they got there, as well as having a lessened focus on their physical wellbeing and what they may be putting their body through, sometimes leading to serious physical injury.
This can lead to an accelerated need for ketamine rehab in Brighton, as well as the potential need for emergency hospitalisation.
Many of the long-term impacts of ketamine that are treated in ketamine rehab in Brighton are linked to the method of consumption that an individual may opt for when consuming ketamine recreationally.
For example, if an individual snorts ketamine as a powder, then they risk additional harm to their cardiovascular system (including the nasal cavity and lungs) – similar to the effects of snorting cocaine.
If an individual injects ketamine as a liquid, though slightly less common, this can lead to additional dangers that are associated with needle use and sanitation.
In addition, regular and increased consumption of ketamine can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Although some research has been conducted into the use of ketamine as a treatment for these conditions (1), this is not to say that it can also have causal effects when consumed in high quantities and on a regular basis.
To speak to a member of the Rehab 4 Addiction team about further support and advice concerning addiction (whether to ketamine, another substance, or a behavioural addiction), call our addiction support line on 0800 140 4690 today to find out how we can help you or someone you know with their addiction recovery journey, starting today.
[1] Tully, J.L., Dahlén, A.D., Haggarty, C.J., Schiöth, H.B. and Brooks, S., 2022. Ketamine treatment for refractory anxiety: A systematic review. British journal of clinical pharmacology, 88(10), pp.4412-4426.
[2] Lim, D.K., 2003. Ketamine associated psychedelic effects and dependence. Singapore Med J, 44(1), pp.31-34.
