01 Dec Ketamine Therapy and Addiction
It may seem counterintuitive to break the bonds of one mind-altering substance with another mind-altering substance, but the use of psychedelics to treat addiction can be traced back to at least the 1900s – if not earlier.
Though there are many who believe that the only way to free oneself from addiction of any sort is through total abstinence from all alcohol and other drugs, those people would be surprised to learn one of the most popular alcohol addiction treatment groups began because of a psychedelic trip.
Bill Willson and Alcoholics Anonymous
In December of 1934, New York stockbroker Bill Wilson found himself at his fourth – and final – stay at a private New York City hospital called the Charles B. Towns Hospital, that specialized in treating the most extreme cases of alcoholism.
According to one newspaper article, a miracle cure for alcoholism had been discovered in 1901 by a man named Charles B. Towns. Towns had opened a drug and alcohol treatment facility – the aforementioned hospital – but being a layman with no medical degree or knowledge, he needed someone with credibility to help him peddle his cure and treat his patients. This led to a partnership with Dr. Alexander Lambert, a professor of medicine at Cornell Medical College, an “expert on alcoholism,” and Theodore Roosevelt’s personal physician.
Together, Towns and Lambert developed their miracle “potion,” as they called it, and named it the Towns-Lambert Cure. It consisted of belladonna, henbane, and prickly ash – the two former of which are psychoactive and can cause hallucinations, while the latter is a stimulant.
The story goes that not long after he cried out to the heavens, “I’ll do anything! Anything at all! If there be a God, let him show himself,” Wilson was struck with a blinding light. Bill then had a vision of a group of alcoholics coming together to support one another in their sobriety.
“Suddenly,” Wilson wrote of his experience in a letter to the famed psychologist Carl Jung, “my room blazed with an indescribably white light. I was seized with an ecstasy beyond description. In the mind’s eye, there was a mountain. I stood upon its summit where a great wind blew. A wind, not of air, but of spirit. In great, clean strength it blew right through me. Then came the blazing thought, ‘You are a free man.’”
Through that powerful psychedelic experience, and for the next 36 years of his life until his death in 1971, Wilson remained sober. And less than a year after that infamous hospital stay, Wilson, along with Ohio surgeon Dr. Bob Smith, founded Alcoholics Anonymous, where – to this day – the main premise of the group is that in order to be free from the bonds of addiction, adherents much undergo a spiritual awakening – much like the one Wilson had after consuming the Towns-Lambert Cure – that will inspire them to “turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand Him.” Bill also incorporated LSD through his sobriety to help resolve his feelings of depression.
Breaking the Bonds of Addiction with Ketamine Therapy
Another psychedelic that’s been gaining traction for the treatment of addiction disorders is Ketamine. Because of its dissociative properties, Ketamine has the ability to disrupt harmful or negative behavioral patterns, including those linked to alcohol use disorder. In fact, one study proved that 86% of participants did not have any alcohol for six months after undergoing ketamine treatments. Disrupting memory formation is one of Ketamine’s “negative” side effects, but in the context of alcoholism, that side effect might actually be beneficial. This is because it can override the memories that trigger alcohol use and abuse.
Ketamine binds to the NMDA (Glutamate) receptor in the brain, which is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. The way ketamine affects glutamate and neuron metabolism both during and long after ketamine infusion affects mood regulation and illustrates its promise for many difficult to treat psychological and neurological conditions.
When a client of MY Self Wellness is given Ketamine to help treat their alcohol addiction, it lessens – and sometimes completely eliminates – the triggers connected to alcohol consumption. Given the numerous environmental factors, such as social environments and drinking associations, that are linked to alcohol abuse, Ketamine Therapy for alcohol and other addictions is quite effective.
Addiction occurs when the body and brain consume a mind-altering substance. The chemical reaction from this substance leads to the high you experience. As dependence on this substance or substances continues, you consume more and more as you continue to chase that initial high. This is addiction. As Ketamine binds to the NMDA receptors, it helps prevent signals from reaching the brain, giving your brain the time to reset old connections and form new, healthier ones.
At MY Self Wellness, we know how difficult it can be to overcome addiction and substance abuse issues. Our main goal is to help you regain a sense of control over your physical and emotional symptoms through Ketamine Therapy, which works to provide rapid relief of withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
If you or someone you love suffers from alcohol addiction or other substance abuse issues, and you would like to learn more about the clinical use of ketamine for substance abuse treatment, contact us today and schedule your consultation.
