"When ketamine is delivered in a controlled clinical environment, the risk of addiction is extremely low. However, ketamine does have abuse potential, with misuse occurring primarily outside medical settings-recreationally, at high frequency, and at doses far above antidepressant doses. Fortunately, there have been no cases of ketamine addiction developing within clinical trials for depression. Furthermore, long-term follow-ups show no development of physiologic dependence, even after months to years. Studies have also shown that ketamine's addiction potential is markedly lower than benzodiazepines, stimulants, cocaine, and opioids."
"However, the risk of ketamine addiction is not zero. The tragedy surrounding Matthew Perry's death is a grave reminder. Perry had a long history of polysubstance dependence, and sadly began using more and more ketamine outside the clinical setting, resulting in addiction and death. Given the potential for ketamine addiction, the rise of ketamine telehealth companies, driven by profit, is worrisome. Low barriers to receiving large supplies of at-home ketamine may foster addiction in this vulnerable patient population."
Ketamine is an anesthetic and a rapid-acting antidepressant with low addiction risk when administered in controlled clinical environments. Misuse occurs mainly recreationally, at higher frequency and doses than clinical antidepressant use, and carries abuse potential. Clinical trials and long-term follow-ups have not shown development of physiologic dependence or ketamine addiction. The risk increases among people with active polysubstance dependence and when large at-home supplies are easily obtained through telehealth models. A prominent fatal case of ketamine misuse underscores that risk. Small studies also indicate ketamine may help treat certain addictions, and its addiction potential is lower than several other drug classes.
Read at Psychology Today
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