Ketamine addiction is a growing public health concern, and issues surrounding ketamine addiction across Oxford are also on the rise.
Ketamine is mainly used within a medical setting as an aesthetic, although an increasingly large number of people across the UK and indeed across the world are now abusing ketamine on a recreational basis.
If you or someone you know are abusing ketamine on a regular basis, then you should seek help from professionals. Ketamine is a highly addictive substance, meaning that it is incredibly hard to overcome an addiction to ketamine by yourself and without professional treatment.
A ketamine addiction can spiral quickly, and leaves people with a number of mental and physical challenges that are difficult, but not impossible to overcome.
There are a number of rehab facilities across Oxford and the wider area that are able to support those with a ketamine addiction, and our team at Rehab 4 Addiction will be able to help you gain access to treatment.
There are a number of benefits when it comes to attending rehab in Oxford for a drug addiction, including ketamine.
Every day you spend addicted to a drug such as ketamine will have a negative and potentially life threatening impact on your health and your mindset. This is why it is incredibly important to seek professional help as soon as possible.
When an individual attends rehab for their ketamine addiction, they will be gaining access to a withdrawal and detox facility, where they will get to withdraw from ketamine in a highly monitored and safe environment, with around the clock 24/7 care and attention.
Once your body is no longer dependent on ketamine in order to function, you will then be in a position to tackle the psychological side of your addiction.
Getting to the root cause of your addiction will ensure that you are less likely to relapse again in the future.
Undergoing professional therapy within a rehab facility will mean that you gain access to a wide range of therapy treatment and techniques, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing and group and family therapy.
By attending rehab for a ketamine addiction, you will also be surrounded by likeminded individuals who are all going through the same thing as you.
By meeting people with the same struggles as yourself, you are less likely to feel alone and afraid, and will also be able to share updates and advice with each other [2].
This will hopefully provide you with a renewed sense of purpose and motivation when it comes to your recovery.
If you have recently left rehab or want to assess your options before booking yourself into a rehab facility, then there are a number of different addiction support groups across Oxfordshire.
For example, Al-Anon are available across Oxfordshire and provide those who support individuals with an addiction to the likes of ketamine, alcohol and cannabis.
Al Anon is designed for anyone who supports those suffering from an addiction, including family members, friends, carers or general loved ones.
Likewise, Narcotics Anonymous (otherwise referred to as NA) is a non-profit support group available to anyone who is struggling with a substance abuse issue. Narcotics Anonymous follows the same 12 step model as Alcoholics Anonymous and is free to anyone who wishes to attend.
Likewise, there are a number of other addiction counselling services available to those suffering from a ketamine addiction in Oxfordshire, including therapy programmes available at the likes of community centres and church halls.
For lots of people, navigating what type of rehab treatment they need to successfully recover can feel confusing and overwhelming.
Most people with a ketamine addiction suffer from a severe addiction, meaning that they need to attend residential and inpatient rehab treatment in order to recover.
Inpatient rehab treatment is when an individual temporarily moves into a rehab facility for a set period of time, which could last weeks or sometimes months, depending on the severity of your addiction.
During this time, you will eat, sleep and receive treatment within the rehab facility until you are in a position to return back home. Your contact to the outside world, including loved ones will be limited, in order to allow you to focus on the treatment you need in order to recover.
Outpatient rehab treatment works very differently and is usually only available to those who suffer from a mild addiction to substances such as alcohol and cannabis.
During outpatient treatment, individuals remain living at home and only visit the rehab facility on a regular basis, such as every day or every week. This is best for anyone with dependents at home, such as children.
Ketamine is a commonly abused party drug that has a long term impact on both the body and on the brain. In fact, ketamine addiction leads to severe damage of the bladder, as well as a number of memory problems, anxiety and even depression.
Ketamine has a long and short term impact on the brain, often disrupting serotonin and dopamine receptors. This means that people’s tolerances to ketamine can increase and spiral significantly. The more people abuse ketamine, the higher their tolerance increases and the more it can spiral out of control [1].
If someone you know or love seems to be struggling and acting differently and you suspect a drug addiction to ketamine, then there are a number of signs and symptoms that you should be looking out for.
Whilst not everyone will display all of the below signs and symptoms when they suffer from a drug addiction, it is important to look out for some of them if you suspect there is an issue [3].
If you recognise any of these above symptoms in either yourself or in someone you know, then you should try to get professional help, including a withdrawal and therapy in order to get to the root cause of your addiction.
If you or someone you know is suffering from a severe addiction to ketamine or other highly addictive substances such as heroin, cannabis or cocaine, then speak to a member of our friendly and helpful team at Rehab 4 Addiction.
Our team will ask you a number of questions related to your addiction, including how long you have been addicted to the substance in question, as well as whether or not you suffer from any mental health conditions, such as depression, paranoia or anxiety.
It is entirely normal to be asked these questions, so do not be concerned if our advisers ask you a number of questions related to this.
Start your recovery journey today by calling our friendly and helpful team for free on 0800 140 4690.
[1] https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/apr/physical-and-psychological-symptoms-ketamine-abuse-revealed
