Ketamine Addiction

A Change Of Lifestyle Helps with Recovery from Ketamine Addiction

Ketamine has traditionally been used as an animal tranquilizer. But at some point it become known more as a party drug, often taken at raves in combination with speed and ecstasy. When used recreationally, it is best known as "Special K. "

Ketamine addiction appears to result more from the fact that the user misses the pleasurable high than a physical need to keep taking the drug.

When used for its original purpose, the drug was injected. But when used recreationally it is usually snorted in powder form. The effects are hallucinogenic in nature. As the user's ketamine addiction progresses, he or she will have to keep increasing the dose to achieve the same high. This body tolerance tends to increase quite rapidly.

The user's reaction to the drug can depend greatly on their emotional state when they take it. If they are feeling happy when they consume the drug, they will tend to have a more positive experience than if they are in a negative state.

The ketamine addiction that results from regular use seems to have a very strong psychological component, much like cocaine. It has the effect of slowing breathing but increasing vascular stimulation. The user feels physically numbed as they experience the drug. But mentally it can lead to people feeling that they are having an out of body experience.

The long term effects of ketamine addiction involve memory loss, loss of motor function, hallucinations, confusion and delirium.

Treatment for ketamine addiction is similar to that of other drugs that are abused recreationally. It usually involves education, group therapy, and behaviour modification. The success of any effects to overcome ketamine addiction can depend on the willingness of the addict to get better.