Ketamine is an anaesthetic that’s often used in the medical field to manage pain relief.
Due to this and the fact it’s currently a class B, many people are under the misunderstanding that it’s relatively “safe” to use (i.e. not as dangerous as heroin).
In the last ten years, there’s been a huge rise in ketamine addiction and ketamine related deaths throughout the UK.
It’s surprised many people and organisation just how much ketamine addiction has hit the younger generation in particular.
Many users begin in their late teen years and have severe addiction and worrying physical consequences by their early twenties.
Clinical pharmacist, Abigail Wilson, who works for a drug charity, stated, “young people under the age of 25 [have] completely lost control of their bladders”.(1)
The government have been considering changing ketamine to a class A because of how addictive it is and how savagely it affects the mind and body.
This is why rehab is so important. Here, we consider the benefits of going to ketamine rehab in Leeds.
Ketamine rehab is when people enter rehabilitation to quit using ketamine. The point is to address and treat the addiction.
In Leeds, there are various rehab clinics. With the rise in ketamine use, there’s a wealth of knowledge and experience in treating people with this addiction.
Rehab clinics are available both in the city and in the wider rural environs. It’s helpful to go to one that suits your needs.
Some people prefer to be in the countryside as it can offer a feeling of cutting off and a turning of the page to the next chapter.
Others prefer the city as this might offer a wider range of options on a recovery programme (i.e. due to more professionals and therefore activities and therapies being available in the local area).
As already mentioned, ketamine is highly addictive. It’s not a condition people can “just get over”.
Addiction changes the neurological processes in the brain, brain structure itself, hormonal balance, and how the bodily systems function.
Ketamine dependency is also associated with severe pain as it destroys the bladder and damages various other vital organs.
Addiction co-exists with increased substance tolerance and as this latter builds, it becomes increasingly challenging to stop, especially in a way that is safe and pain-free.
Going to rehab in Leeds offers the most effective way to treat ketamine abuse and to do so in a way that keeps you as comfortable as possible.
When you enter rehab, you’ll have an induction. This will include a medical check-up with nursing staff.
It’s not unusual for residents to have blood tests during their stay as well (i.e. to check nutrition levels or for blood-borne viruses).
You’ll be shown around the building, introduced to other people in recovery as well as staff, and be shown to your bedroom.
You’ll be given a programme that’s tailored to your needs. It’ll include set meal times and various group activities and therapeutic input.
Everyone who enters rehab goes through a detox period. This is when staff support people to come off ketamine in as safe and comfortable a way as possible.
Detox lasts between seven to ten days. Residents are often prescribed medication to manage pain and to reduce anxiety.
While residents start to take part in various activities, becoming physically stable is the main priority.
It’s also the time when people become accustomed to the daily structure following wake-up times, meal times, breaks, medication times and medical check-ups, and bedtime. Structure and routine is one of the fundamentals of recovery.
Though therapeutic support will overlap with the detox, the focus deepens once detox is over.
Residents are supported by therapists, counsellors, and keyworkers. As well as this, there’s the group support which is a key feature of recovery programmes.
Staff lead support using various therapeutic approaches including Gestalt, Family Systems, Dialectical Behavioural, and Cognitive Behavioural etc.
These are imperative in terms of addressing the underpinnings of addiction, the causes, how to manage triggers, and to highlight how you want to be and how you want your life to go.
Alternative therapies are also offered, art therapy, music therapy, and equine therapy are often available.
Therapy is where people learn and develop new, healthy coping mechanisms. Residents usually stay at rehab for between 1 and 3 months.
As the rehab stay draws closer to an end, residents are supported by staff to develop an aftercare programme.
It includes who to contact during difficult moments where you might feel triggered (i.e. supportive people and organisations), healthy coping mechanisms, and areas of life you plan to focus on.
For the majority, staying in contact with drug services and ketamine support organisations is important. It helps people to stay focused and to develop goals often related to becoming a peer support worker.
Going to a private rehab can be pricey. This is to cover the cost of the building, its upkeep, staff, resources, food etc.
There are both lower budget options and high-end options. You can expect to pay between £3000 – £10,000 a week for a stay at rehab.
It might be useful to know that there are some limited funded rehab placements.
To access these, a person must be actively engaged with outpatient drug services for a period of time and demonstrate that they’re working as hard as they can to heal their addiction.
This means going to weekly sessions, being responsive to your keyworker and trying to follow guidance. It also means trying to use new coping mechanisms learnt in outpatient hubs.
Ketamine use has skyrocketed over the last decade. The BBC reported that “the number of under-18s entering drug treatment who describe ketamine as one of their problem substances rose from 335 to 917 between 2020-21 and 2023-24”.
Not only is this a large amount, but these figures won’t even reflect the true nature of the problem at ground level because, as is commonly acknowledged in the addiction field, this is a condition that’s taboo.
This is one of the reasons that admitting to having a problem can be challenging and why accessing treatment comes with a set of barriers.
Ketamine damages the bladder, bile ducts, gastrointestinal tract, the liver, kidneys, cognitive and executive functioning and mental health.
One of the reasons awareness is growing is due to how many people are forced into medical treatment for the damage ketamine does to the body.
Ketamine addiction is created by a combination of factors. It’s useful to understand this as it can help to put into context the depth of the condition, to realise that it needs professional treatment, and to reach a place of self-compassion.
Addiction is often developed as a result of genetic predisposition, as a learnt coping mechanism (i.e. having witnessed a parent with an alcohol addiction), as linked to peer influence, and due to an increase in tolerance.
Many ketamine users have experienced traumatic events and use ketamine for its pain-relieving effects, in the short term, it can feel comforting.
As the addiction develops, users become dependent. This is because of the pain caused to the organs, which is only “relieved” by taking more ketamine.
If you have a ketamine addiction, getting treatment as quickly as possible is advisable. The sooner you get help, the quicker you can start healing the mind and body.
If funding for a private rehab is an issue, then self-refer to local drug services and fully commit to that and ask about what you need to do to access a funded placement. You can however, speak with out team right…
At Rehab 4 Addiction, we’ve a team of people experienced in addiction to support you with any questions you might have. We’ll further explain ketamine recovery services, what your local options are, and how best to access these.
Call us on 0800 140 4690 to get all the information you need and to take the next step on your recovery journey.
