Ketamine Addiction Treatment & Therapy in Ontario

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Ketamine Addiction Treatment

Signs of Ketamine Abuse

Ketamine is a dissociative tranquilizer used mostly in the veterinary field but is also abused as a recreational club drug.  Ketamine is classified as a hallucinogen. This means that when abused, ketamine has powerful hallucinogenic properties that can cause highly unpredictable results.  Ketamine affects people very differently and there is no way to know which dosage level could be dangerous.

Abusing ketamine often leads to a psychological dependence. Over time, the user develops a tolerance, meaning they have to take more to get the same effects. Signs that someone you care about may be using ketamine include:

  • Redness of the skin
  • Slurred speech
  • Depression
  • Rapid eye movements
  • Insomnia|
  • Irritability
  • Antsy behavior
  • Loss of coordination

Ketamine is a dissociative drug used as an anesthetic in veterinary practice. Dissociative drugs are hallucinogens that cause the user to feel detached from reality.

With just 30 days at a rehab center, you can get clean and sober, start therapy, join a support group, and learn ways to manage your cravings.

The Dangers of Ketamine

Ketamine is a schedule III controlled substance, making it illegal for recreational use. Schedule III drugs are likely to cause psychological dependence and may cause physical dependence. When someone uses the drug recreationally, they may experience serious side effects, such as:

  • Disorientation
  • Respiratory distress
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Psychotic episodes and hallucinations
  • Slowed movement
  • Impaired cognitive function
  • Numbness
  • Elevated heart rate and blood pressure
  • Slurred speech
  • Impaired judgment
  • Impaired motor function
  • Distorted perceptions of sight and sound

Bladder damage is common in ketamine addicts. Twenty-five percent of ketamine users report pain related to emptying their bladder, the urine often containing blood. Even users who only take ketamine occasionally report the sensation of “ket cramps,” or pain while urinating due to the abrasive nature of the chemicals passing through their kidneys and urinary tract. In only months of heavy use, the bladder is often destroyed.  When ketamine is abused for an extended period of time, these side effects can last well over a year.

Brain damage and impaired cognitive function can be permanent, as can kidney damage. Respiratory failure and increased heart rate can result in death.

Recognizing a Ketamine Addiction

Some people begin using ketamine as a recreational club drug of choice. Clubbers may be looking for a mild psychedelic experience, which is why ketamine and MDMA are so commonly abused. However, chronic abuse of the drug can lead to an addiction.  As the user’s tolerance to the drug increases, he or she will use more. Prolonged ketamine abuse can lead to psychological addiction, marked by an obsession with and intense cravings for the drug.  Some of the signs of a ketamine use disorder, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Clinical Disorders, include:

  • Problems with relationships
  • Time spent trying to acquire the drug
  • Desire to limit use
  • Lack of control over use
  • Cravings for the drug
  • Ignoring obligations and responsibilities

Psychological addiction to ketamine is characterized by a strong desire to experience the drug’s effects, including an intense psychedelic high, vivid hallucinations and the out-of-body experience known as the “K-hole.” Excessive use of the drug may lead to psychotic- and schizophrenic-like behaviors and tendencies.

Intervention and Next Steps

Family and friends of a person who is abusing ketamine may have tried to reason with their loved one, only to be met with anger and denial. An individual who is in his or her addiction is rarely open to reasonable discussions about their problem because they do not believe they have one.  Our skilled interventionist can help by guiding an effective intervention.  During the intervention, the family and friends not only confront their loved one, stating they will no longer enable the addiction, but offer their love and support for the addict’s treatment and recovery.

An intervention is a highly charged, emotional, and unpredictable event which should be managed by our professional interventionist. The interventionist will do pre-intervention research and interviews with the family to determine any deeply entrenched enabling behaviors and other specifics related to the person suffering from addiction.

A successful intervention culminates with the interventionist motivating the user to agree to seek treatment. Admission to a drug treatment facility typically follows immediately after the intervention ends.

Rehab for Ketamine Addiction

Someone who has abused ketamine over a long period of time may experience dangerous withdrawal symptoms when attempting to quit. Because ketamine addiction is primarily psychological, the withdrawal symptoms mostly are too. Common symptoms include paranoia, depression and emotional imbalance.

Physical withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Hearing loss
  • Rapid heart beat
  • Loss of motor skills
  • Double vision
  • Loss of coordination
  • Rapid breathing

Although these withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable, most doctors don’t recommend a taper-down method. Most detox programs use a cold turkey approach, but this is recommended in a medically supervised setting due to the unpredictable nature of the withdrawal symptoms. There are medications that can help alleviate some of the withdrawal symptoms.

Metamorphosis Inpatient treatment for ketamine dependence is often effective and includes group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy and sometimes a 12-step program, such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

If you or someone you care about is struggling with a ketamine addiction, get in touch with us .

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Brittany BuchanBrittany Buchan
10:49 21 Dec 22
Metamorphosis literally saved my life .I went to the centre completely broken and honestly just done. But after a month of learning and amazing care from all the medical staff and counsellors ( Rick , Vicky, Troy , Jen , Mel , Nicole ) I left a with a new lease on life and I now look forward to living.I wasn’t sure if this place was for me as I suffer from mental illness and not addiction but although most of the focus was on addictions , it’s very applicable to mental health as well and found myself learning a lot.My primary counsellor Rick was amazing , he lifted me up and helped me see my true potential and worth and guided me in tackling some daunting work and was always there for me when I needed , for hims i am so thankful!My secondary counsellor Vicky was another saving grace for me , we shared a lot of similar stories and she was easy to talk to , always made sure that if I had a issue , it was rectified and she’s definitely a huge blessing to me and my recovery !The only negative thing I have to say is the centre is quite disorganized ( managerially , administratively) and I did feel like I was chasing people to try and receive some of the things that were supposed to be part of my treatment there from family therapy to psychiatry . When I did speak to the owners about this it was dealt with in a productive manner and although in my opinion it wasn’t able to be fixed as it was too far gone ; it was sorted out to the best of their ability .Metamorphosis was the first place I have felt safe , heard , valued and supported and everyone there was amazing I would recommend this centre to others who are looking for a place to heal !
Ada WoodsAda Woods
05:44 02 Oct 22
My time at Metamorphosis Centre was unexpectedly beautiful.I've travelled around the world, and I have to say this was the best month of my life. Nothing compares to this experience and the knowledge I gained. If you are on the fence or looking into treatments centres, I promise this is the place for you!I remember making the decision I needed to go to rehab and being terrified based off what movies portray - I'm 25 - so the picture of the movie "Girl Interrupted" played through my mind. Wow, did Metamorphosis prove me wrong. The gentlemen Todd who answered the phone on the other side of Metamorphosis tackled all my questions with empathy and made me feel comfortable with the decision of going there. I was still hesitant but when I walked through the front doors of Metamorphosis a rush of hope came over me and I felt instantly at home. I was greeted with compassion, understanding, and no judgements. That continued for my 30 days there, as well as after I left. I have a new family; the staff, counsellors, owners, and clients that attended alongside me.The program itself gets to the bottom of addiction by exploring how everything starts with the importance of mental health. They focus on how to love and accept yourself despite decisions or experiences we've all had in life. It is accompanied with beautiful walks and swims at the beach, nature hikes, and fun group activities that taught me I can have fun being sober again. I can be myself and be loved for it.Every single counsellor in the building goes above and beyond with their jobs. It is so evident that they truly give their whole heart to every individual that walks through their front doors. I have done therapy consistently for 2 years prior to going. During my first conversation with head counsellor Rick he got to the root of my problems in that one conversation. (I know my mind was blown too.) I will forever be thankful for Rick, he truly changed my outlook on life, and helped re-build the broken relationships I had with my parents. Vicky, the mom of the building, with the biggest heart. She wasn't even my assigned counsellor but she stood by my side and cheered me on while I figured my life out. Nicole, my primary counsellor provided me with tools to overcome my anxiety and panic attacks. She is such a joy to be around, and lights up any room she walks into. I learned more in a month at Metamorphosis Centre than I had doing therapy for 2 years.To Frank and Chris, the owners, thank you SO much for opening up Metamorphosis Centre, and your determination to make it the best centre out there. In my eyes, you have achieved that. I couldn't imagine my life without this place now.
stephanie beedhamstephanie beedham
19:34 11 Aug 22
Metamorphosis changed my life. It is a treatment center that stands above the rest in every aspect of recovery. The treatment is personalized to each individual's struggle and the staff work one on one to provide the best care possible. My counselor Rick is one of the most wonderful people I have ever met. With years of experience and a heart of gold, he challenged me, taught me and encouraged me to face my addiction and overcome a lifetime of trauma. Vicky is a counselor that will go above and beyond for her clients. She is relentless in her pursuit to make your journey successful. Chris and Frank, the owners, make Metamorphosis a place that people can call home during recovery. Their work is not only amazing...it is beautiful and inspiring. I will forever be grateful for the time I spent at this Centre and urge anyone struggling with mental health or addiction to reach out and look no further than Metamorphosis. It is treatment that will make the difference.
Dennis CDennis C
15:34 02 Apr 22
Metamorphosis showed me how to be the best version of my self . The patience and consideration from all the staff is what makes Metamorphosis different from other centre's. The food was fantastic, I enjoyed the kitchen staff so much I would volunteer cleaning dishes. Frank and Chris gave me an opportunity that allowed me to break the cycle of addiction that I will be forever grateful for. My primary counselor Madison , went above and beyond. Secondary counselor Tom was open and friendly , but took my recovery seriously and helped show me the way into better living. I am still in contact with Tom and he continues to support me with the challenges I face in recovery
Melanie BucciMelanie Bucci
21:39 10 Jan 22
I cannot begin to describe how thankful I am for Metamorphosis for helping me get my life back together. I was in a very dark place when I arrived and I did not know what to expect as this was my first (and last) treatment center I have ever been to. Right away I was made to feel comfortable and at home by the staff and the other clients staying at the center. You can tell that the owners, Frank and Chris, truly care about their clients. My primary counsellor, Jen, was absolutely amazing and I am so grateful for her. She understood me right away and gave me the tools I needed to be successful in my recovery, along with the help of the head counsellor, Rick, and the other counsellors at Metamorphosis. The doctors and therapists that they work with are also excellent and extremely knowledgeable. The food they provided was top notch. Thank you, Metamorphosis, for making me live again and not just survive. This center will always hold a special place in my heart.
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