Ketamine is now a huge part of the UK drug scene. Thousands of young people are impacted.
Teenagers and those in their 20s have been using recreationally for years and many in their 30s and 40s now have severe addictions.
“The number of ketamine users starting treatment (3,609) is now over 8 times higher than it was in 2014 to 2015, when the number was 426.”(1)
It’s important to keep in mind, that actually, the likely figure of those with ketamine addiction is much higher than 3,609.
It’s just that people have only recently started accessing treatment for it.
Over 45,000 people are in treatment for cocaine, which puts into context how much higher ketamine addiction could actually be.
Addiction has many roots related to genetics, the physiological, environmental, and social.
It’s a disease that, once is in motion, is particularly difficult to manage.
Even those who achieve long-lasting sobriety still class themselves as addicts. It’s just that the addiction is managed effectively by totally avoiding substances.
Many people beat themselves up for addiction, feeling as though they’re “weak” and should “just be able to stop”.
Historically, this type of opinion is associated with a society steeped in religious backgrounds that have attitudes around “moral failing”.
The truth is, addiction is about much more than a person’s character.
It physically and neurologically alters the brain and how it functions causing people to lose control and develop unhealthy compulsive behaviours.
Ketamine is used in the medical field. It’s used as a pain reliever and anaesthetic.
Around ten years ago, it hit the illegal drug scene and people started using it at parties, raves, and festivals.
It’s cheap (£15-£20 a gram – in comparison to cocaine which is £80 – £100 a gram).
When snorted or injected, it causes dissociative effects, hallucinations, and leads to k-holes where people hallucinate while appearing unconscious.
For a long time, many users didn’t realise that ketamine caused severe addiction and damage to the body.
Although communities have been living with the harrowing effects witnessing people deteriorate from it, it’s only since 2023 that the real impact of ketamine on health is coming to the fore.
At a societal level, organisations and the government are starting to take note and share information.
If you’re wondering whether you or someone you care about has an addiction, there are telltale signs that make it clear.
It’s important to be honest with yourself, or if talking to someone you care about, be open, honest, and caring about the symptoms.
Questions to ask are:
Answering yes to any of these questions means your use has reached problematic to addictive use. Accessing support and treatment is essential in managing this health concern.
There are various places you can go to for support. It’s advisable to seek help from your local GP, explain that you have been using ketamine.
They can run various tests to help ascertain any internal damage and to refer you on to specialist services.
If you’re concerned about confidentiality as linked to employment or benefits, discuss this with your doctor. Health must come first.
As well as physical treatment, addiction requires psychological and social input. It’s a disease that impacts all areas and as such requires a holistic approach.
To treat the addiction, there are outpatient drug services in Leicester as well as ketamine rehab clinics.
Outpatient services are increasingly used by ketamine users. As communities are hit more with its widespread use, drug services are seeing more people accessing treatment.
In the city and local towns, there are centres where people can access a keyworker for limited one-to-one support, weekly group sessions (i.e. SMART and 12 Step groups), education and harm reduction advice.
Those who engage particularly well with drug services have the change to access a funded placement at a private rehab clinic.
Being such an addictive substance, ketamine use is best addressed at a private rehab clinic. These are the ultimate environments that facilitate healing and offer the foundations for recovery to begin for the long-term.
A specialist team of staff lead a complex programme. There are psychological and alternative therapies. There are daily group sessions. Medical staff support people to detox safely and ensure withdrawal symptoms are managed.
Rehab clinics are calm, safe places without usual triggers. These are places that emphasise the importance of structure with times to wake, eat, have treatment sessions, breaks, and go to bed.
There are many treatments available. Rehabs differ slightly in their approach.
Some offer programmes with a more 12 Step approach, while others might place more focus on SMART recovery goals.
It’s helpful to look into both sorts to see which suits you or your loved one more.
Treatments at rehabs usually include:
To help prevent relapse, it’s really important that ketamine users stay in contact with drug services.
Those provided by the rehab clinic as well as outpatient services.
Aftercare services might include ongoing weekly online groups, or fortnightly one-to-ones with a counsellor. This sort of support is unique to what the individual needs.
One thing that’s imperative, is to also manage external environmental triggers.
Returning to life where you’re connected to people who use ketamine increases chance of relapse. It’s important to break unhealthy ties.
Those with the most successful outcomes with sobriety are those who stay connected to the recovery community in peer-leading roles.
It also helps to remain in contact with the sober community as when difficult times arise, it’s easier to access support with the social network this space offers.
Of course, there’s a cost to go to rehab. This covers how much it is to keep and maintain the building, to employ the team of specialist staff, offer supplements and medication, and provide decent and nutritious food.
Depending on where you go, costs can range from £1000 to £3000 a week. The most prestigious rehab clinics can cost £10,000 a week (i.e. those that celebrities access).
As mentioned above, there are totally funded placements as well as partially funded places for some people who access rehab via outpatient services.
These placements are offered to those that actively engage with outpatient services, going to weekly sessions and following advice and guidance to fully facilitate their healing.
For people with addictions who want to access support, there are often a few trains of thought that motivate people forward, “I’ve hit rock bottom”, “I’m fed up. Enough is enough”, “I need to do this to save myself”, “I want to stop hurting other people”.
All reasons are important to hold onto. Keep these thoughts in mind every day, write them down, have them visible, and return to them as a mantra.
To access the ketamine rehab in Leicester and the support you need, contact Rehab 4 Addiction now. We offer guidance on what to do to get you on the road to recovery.
