In this blog, we are going to break down the scientific article, “Mystical-type experiences occasioned by ketamine mediate its impact on at-risk drinking” and explain why you should care, what happened in the study, and what the results of the study means for you and ketamine therapy.

With the lack of options for treating substance use disorders, it is rather interesting to find another substance being the solution.

Why should I care about this study?

There are a minimal number of options for treating substance use disorders. Plus there is some controversy with using a drug (or “other substance”) when treating substance use disorders. However this study aims to evaluate whether the psychedelic mystical experience during the ketamine infusion is necessary/relevant in alcohol dependence treatment.

The results of the study showed that ketamine was indeed more effective to midazolam in treating at-risk drinking

What happened in the study?

This was a 5-week, randomized, double-blinded, place-controlled study that consisted of 40 individuals seeking treatment for alcohol dependence. These participants had to meet the eligibility criteria and were randomized to receive an IV infusion of either ketamine or midazolam.

The administration of ketamine as compared to midazolam decreased the odds of engaging in at-risk drinking by approximately five times. The participants in the ketamine group also had a significantly longer time to relapse compared to the midazolam group.

Ketamine in treating various disorders is becoming more and more prevalent.

What does the results of the study mean for me?

There was indeed a significance in the mystical experience from ketamine when it comes to treating alcohol use disorder (AUD). With alcohol misuse being a significant problem in the US, it is indeed groundbreaking (and rather interesting) to see ketamine, another substance, to treat substance use disorders.

In fact, ketamine was even found to treat people who are cocaine-dependent. With ketamine, and other psychedelics, being discovered to treat substance use disorders, it is a huge possibility that this type of treatment will eventually become accepted by more people.

Final Considerations

Although the study is indeed good news for those who want to try exploring ketamine infusions, there are definitely some limitations to the study. The sample size was relatively small and so it would be important to replicate these findings in future studies with a larger number of participants.

Also, the participants in the study were non-depressed and alcohol-dependent. There is no study yet that has been conducted for AUD individuals who have mood, anxiety and psychological disorders.

It’ll be interesting to see future studies on this subject. What do you think of this study?