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Ketamine for Addiction | Help for Recovery

There is no shortage of addiction and substance abuse in the nation, and Ketamine for addiction treatments is a new option for help in recovery. Recent years of clinical studies and research have proven time and again that Ketamine is fast-acting and helps the mind heal itself. Ketamine is genuinely unique and like no other medication. Ketamine for addiction, sometimes paired with existing beneficial forms of therapy, helps men and women maintain abstinence, reduce compulsive behaviors, and release trauma.

Addiction is prevalent and ranges widely from alcohol to drugs, and so on. If you suffer from any form of addiction and seek a more fulfilling recovery experience, Ketamine may be right for you. Ketamine Therapy LA is the leading provider of Ketamine Treatments in West Hollywood and Los Angeles. Contact Ketamine Therapy LA to learn about this revolutionary treatment and discover if Ketamine is right for you. Call 323-650-9883 or fill out the online form to get started.

Benefits of Ketamine

  • Near Instantaneous Results
  • Rewire and Reconnect the Mind
  • Increase Mental Adaptability
  • Reduce Compulsive Behaviors
  • Maintain Abstinence Longer
  • Release Trauma
  • Improve Mental Wellness

Understanding Addiction

An addiction is a chronic condition involving the mind and the body. It causes the body to crave a particular substance or class of substances. Addiction is more complicated than many people realize and involves motivation, reward, and memory. Addiction often causes the affected person to act compulsively. Chasing the next high becomes an obsession that may cause them to act now and think later.

How Addiction Affects the Brain

Addictive drugs activate the reward circuitry of the brain1. This is what produces the “high” that addicted users will do almost anything to obtain. The brain’s reward system is designed to encourage behaviors that will help it to thrive. For example, this reward system encourages things like eating, exercising, and socializing.

Unfortunately, the reward system can also reinforce pleasurable behaviors that are unhealthy. Surges of dopamine while taking illicit drugs cause euphoria. Many people chase this sensation by taking drugs again and again.

Over time, the brain adapts to the continued use of drugs by developing a tolerance to them. When this happens, the drugs no longer deliver the same high the addicted person has come to expect. In an attempt to recreate the same high, they used to experience, they might take more of the drug. Long-term substance abuse can cause changes in the brain. Over time, the brain derives less pleasure from things like social activities, sexual intimacy, and food.

Understanding the Causes of Addiction

There is no single factor that predicts if a person will develop a drug addiction. Instead, there are many underlying influences that can increase a person’s susceptibility to addiction. Here are a few biological and environmental factors that can increase the risk of addiction:

Biological Factors

Scientists estimate that a person’s genetics account for up to 60% of their addiction risk2. Other biological factors that can impact a person’s addiction risk include ethnicity, gender, and stage of development. People with mental disorders also have a higher risk of addiction and drug use.

Environmental Factors

Environmental factors can also increase a person’s risk of addiction. The home environment is one of the most important influences, especially throughout childhood. If older family members abuse addictive substances, children may follow in their footsteps. As children grow older and become teenagers, peer behaviors become more influential. Teens are at a higher risk of using drugs and becoming addicted to them if their friends and peers use drugs.

Other Risk Factors

In addition to the factors above, there are other risk factors associated with addiction. They include:

  •  Low peer refusal skills
  •  Lack of supervision
  •  Depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders
  •  Painful physical health conditions
  •  Availability of drugs
  •  Community poverty
  •  Drug experimentation

How Ketamine Infusions Treat Addiction

Studies show Ketamine can help with addiction by reducing addictive cravings and motivations3. It acts on the central nervous system as an n-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. This promising drug has been shown to prolong abstinence from heroin and alcohol4. It also allows the brain to rewire itself to allow for
healing.

Ketamine is unlike traditional medications. While some conventional medicines require constant use to have an effect, if any, Ketamine works first to heal the mind. Research shows that Ketamine increases Glutamate in the brain. Glutamate helps the brain create new neural connections and pathways. This increase in Glutamate allows the brain to rewire itself and become more adaptable. As the mind becomes more adaptable and open, healing can occur more fully.

Dr. John Krystal, a Chief Psychiatrist of Yale Medicine, states, “When you take Ketamine, it triggers reactions in your cortex that enable brain connections to regrow. So, it’s the reaction to Ketamine, not the presence of Ketamine in that body, that constitutes its effects.” Ketamine can assist in existing therapy methods for those recovering from addiction by improving brain function and providing an overall antidepressant effect.

Ketamine for Addiction in Clinical Studies

Two clinical studies on Ketamine for addiction were recently conducted by Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. One study tested patients with addiction to cocaine and the other alcohol addiction. In both studies, a partial amount of participants was given Ketamine combined with existing forms of therapy. These studies were fueled by the theory that Ketamine triggers glutamate production.

In the cocaine trial, a total of 55 patients received mindfulness-based relapse prevention therapy and either ketamine infusion or a placebo. As a result, 48% of those who received Ketamine maintained abstinence for 2 weeks, compared to the much lower 11% of those who received the placebo and maintained abstinence. In the alcohol trial, 40 alcohol-dependent patients received either Ketamine or a placebo in addition to motivational enhancement therapy. The study stated that Ketamine “significantly increased the likelihood of abstinence, delayed the time to relapse, and reduced the likelihood of heavy drinking days.” Those who conducted these studies hope to continue their research on a larger scale to understand Ketamine for addiction better and obtain even more outstanding results.

Treating Addiction with Ketamine

Currently, an estimated 21 million people in America are suffering from an addiction. Addiction ranges so broadly, and circumstances are so unique. For those in recovery or looking for recovery, gaining back a higher quality of life is the goal because addiction can lead to death in the most extreme cases. Finding appropriate help and beneficial medications can be difficult. Ketamine is a relatively new option for addiction recovery treatment, however, research proves more and more that Ketamine is effective, fast, and has minimal side effects. To learn more about Ketamine for addiction, speak directly with experts at Ketamine Therapy LA.

What to Expect in a Ketamine Treatment Session

Ketamine is administered intravenously or via infusion at small doses for 40 to 60-minute sessions. Each session is monitored closely by a professional and will be in a comfortable setting. A series of 10 sessions is prescribed for a full Ketamine for addiction course. This treatment is customizable, and Ketamine Therapy LA will create a treatment plan for you based on your unique circumstances, needs, and budget.

A pre-infusion meeting and post-infusion debriefing occur for all who opt into Ketamine treatments. This ensures that each patient is taken care of from beginning to end. The cost of Ketamine varies per patient. Most insurance companies will not cover the cost of Ketamine for addiction. To know the exact cost of this treatment for you, speak with Ketamine Therapy LA directly.

Ketamine for Addiction FAQs

Ketamine is a synthetic drug widely used as an anesthetic in emergency rooms. It is popular as an anesthetic as it does not affect the respiratory system, making it ideal for patients. In veterinary medicine, Ketamine is also used as an animal tranquilizer. Ketamine has now become a very popular topic of study and research for mental health and other disorders such as addiction, depression, and chronic pain.

Some of the many treatment applications for Ketamine are:

  • Addiction
  •  Anxiety
  •  Depression
  •  Treatment-Resistant Depression
  •  OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)
  •  OCPD (Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder)
  •  PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
  •  Suicidal Ideation

With addiction can often come other mental illnesses. Luckily, Ketamine Therapy LA can use Ketamine to treat a variety of ailments and disorders personalized for your unique needs.

Why Choose Ketamine Therapy LA

Ketamine Therapy LA is located within the CRMC facility in West Hollywood. Our Ketamine provider is Dr. Sirak. Dr. Sirak is a board-certified anesthesiologist and master injector. He has extensive experience with Ketamine and provides dedicated care to all his patients. Dr. Sirak is committed to helping patients find a ‘new lease on life’ with Ketamine.

Experience Safe Ketamine Infusions for Addiction in LA and West Hollywood

Stop addiction in its tracks by choosing Ketamine for addiction with Ketamine Therapy LA. We are the leading provider of this unique and revolutionary therapy treatment in West Hollywood and Los Angeles. We are committed to helping men and women feel beautiful inside and out. Schedule a complimentary consultation with us to learn more about Ketamine for addiction. We can help you decide if it’s right for you. Call us today at 323-650-9883.