Rehab 4 Addiction

Ketamine is a popular drug that is often consumed in recreational settings but that can cause serious addiction issues if the individual does not seek appropriate treatment in an appropriate time frame.

Although ketamine is typically used in the field of medicine for anaesthetic purposes, its uses are becoming more and more common recreationally due to the addictive qualities of the substance.

This is why seeking ketamine rehabilitation in Cardiff is essential, especially if the individual is committed and motivated toward making a full recovery.

Every individual will have a different process of rehabilitation, but understanding the benefits of ketamine rehabilitation is essential for any individual who may be struggling or suspects that someone they know may be struggling with addiction.

This web page will highlight the dangers of ketamine addiction, including the effects and how these are treated during the rehabilitation process, as well as detailing the different stages of rehabilitation in Cardiff and features within each of these stages.

What is Ketamine rehabilitation in Cardiff?

This is where ketamine rehabilitation is vital. During ketamine rehab in Cardiff, individuals will be supported in breaking this cycle of addiction and working toward an addiction-free and sober lifestyle.

As well as the process that will be covered across the remainder of this web page, an individual must also have a strong mental attitude toward recovery and making positive changes in their life.

Without this, individuals undergoing ketamine rehab in Cardiff are unlikely to make meaningful progress within their rehab journey. This adds to the time that it will take for an individual to maintain their sobriety, but it can also cause additional stress to the individual and therefore impede their progress further.

The process of Ketamine rehabilitation in Cardiff

When an individual makes the decision to enter ketamine rehabilitation in Cardiff, they will be encouraged to follow three distinct stages that will boost their efficiency and effectiveness during their rehabilitation progress.

The stages are as follows: detoxification, therapy/treatment, and aftercare.

These stages are recommended due to the way that they cover all aspects of an individual’s recovery process, from their physical wellbeing to their emotional and mental health.

By covering all aspects of an individual’s recovery process, individuals are far more likely to maintain what they have learned in their recovery journey as they have multiple coping mechanisms and new ways of thinking to overcome the long-term impacts of addiction.

The following subheadings will outline these three stages in further detail, as well as how they may relate to the general overall process of ketamine rehab in Cardiff.

1. Detoxification

This is a vital first stage in any individual’s rehabilitation – for ketamine rehab in Cardiff or otherwise – and marks the beginning of an individual’s physical recovery.

During a detox session, individuals will withdraw from the substance that they are addicted to (in this instance, ketamine).

This is generally done by slowly reducing the quantity of the substance that an individual regularly consumes in order to minimise the impact of the lack of the substance in their body. However, in some instances where the substance is not physically addictive (i.e., such as ketamine), individuals may be able to completely stop consuming the substance at one point at the beginning of their recovery process.

This should only be done when deemed medically necessary and under the supervision of a medical professional i.e., a doctor, addiction specialist, or detox clinician.

2. Therapy/treatment

Though this stage of ketamine rehab in Cardiff will differ for every individual, it is generally tailored to ensure an individual’s mental wellbeing and equip them with tools to overcome any effects to their long-term emotional health.

Commonly prescribed therapeutic treatments include:

  • Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
  • Motivational interviewing (MI)
  • Individual therapy/counselling
  • Group therapy/group talking therapy
  • Holistic treatments (equine, art, music, yoga, meditation therapies)

3. Aftercare

Every individual who progresses through a full treatment programme during ketamine rehab in Cardiff should continue their rehabilitation journey with aftercare.

This is the last of the stages of ketamine rehab but can last for as long as an individual requires. For example, aftercare refers to any additional treatment participated in after an individual’s main programme of rehabilitation and therefore can progress for as long as an individual requires.

Often, individuals may be assigned to a specific rehab aftercare specialist to support an individual in their ongoing learning and development, but an individual can meet with this support officer as often or as little as they require.

How to access ketamine rehab in Cardiff

To ensure that an individual’s programme of ketamine rehab in Cardiff is specific and effective for their individual needs, every individual who enters rehabilitation must complete a pre-assessment to support their needs during the complete process.

This pre-assessment will be conducted by a specialist who will ask questions to ensure that every individual’s needs are met during their specific rehab programme.

Some examples of these questions include the following:

  • What substance(s) is the individual addicted to?
  • What is the history of this addiction?
  • In what quantities does the individual usually consume this substance(s)?
  • Does the individual have any additional physical or mental health issues?
  • What is the individual’s current living situation

FAQs about Ketamine addiction

Below, we provide to answer some of the common questions people may have around the topic of ketamine addiction:

1. What are the dangers of ketamine consumption

Though every substance will have its own direct impacts on an individual’s physical and mental wellbeing, there are some additional and specific factors that will have consequences for an individual struggling with ketamine addiction.

For ketamine, the dangers of consumption are often related to the method of consumption that an individual participates in.

The following methods of consumption may cause the related effects:

  • Snorting ketamine in the form of a powder – this can cause serious irritation to the nasal cavity, as well as health risks to the cardiovascular system due to the nature of the substance affecting the linings of these parts of the body. Though improvements have been shown through ketamine prescription to individuals struggling with high blood pressure (1), this suggests that ketamine can reduce blood pressure in some situations. This could be dangerous for some individuals who do not require this as a treatment.
  • Injecting ketamine in the form of a liquid – the use of needles always carries additional risks in the form of infection, unsafe methods, and potential shared needle usage. Though this is not as common as has historically been recorded, needle use carries many additional risks for those who may not be medically trained.
  • Swallowing as a tablet/’bombing’ – both of these methods require consumption of ketamine and interaction with the stomach lining and other digestive body parts. Though there may be a lower risk with small quantities of ketamine, any quantity can cause serious health risks.

2. What are the short-term benefits vs. long-term consequences of ketamine use?

For many individuals struggling with addiction, part of the struggles are related to the individual’s perception of their consumption.

For example, many individuals are likely to associate ketamine with the short-term benefits such as feeling euphoria and entering a dream-like state. However, they are unlikely to have the same associations with the long-term consequences, leading to a vicious cycle of addiction.

Rehab 4 Addiction and how we can help you today

Rehab 4 Addiction is a specialist addiction referral service that matches individuals to an appropriate rehabilitation programme – specialised to their needs.

To learn more about other aspects of addiction and rehabilitation in more detail, take a look at some of our other webpages, as well as calling our addiction support hotline on 0800 140 4690 to get free and confidential advice.

Get in touch today to find out how Rehab 4 Addiction can help you or someone you know start a meaningful rehabilitation recovery journey.

References

[1] Waxman, K., Shoemaker, W.C. and Lippmann, M., 1980. Cardiovascular effects of anesthetic induction with ketamine. Anesthesia & Analgesia59(5), pp.355-358.