These days, it’s unfortunate how easy it can be to become addicted to drugs. This is true of many kinds of drugs whether prescribed or illicit.
Perhaps you’re worried about a family member or close friend and their drug habit. When you care about someone and start to notice potentially dangerous behaviors, it can cause serious concern.
Maybe you even have strong reason to believe that person is abusing a specific substance. Maybe that substance is ketamine.
If, for whatever reason, you believe someone you love is addicted to ketamine, take action. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) classifies Ketamine as a “Schedule III” drug for a reason. Without intervention, they can experience serious physical dependence.
First, though, keep reading to know for a fact that ketamine is the root cause for concern. You need to learn to recognize these crucial ketamine symptoms and warning signs of addiction.
Symptoms of Addiction to Ketamine
The truth of the matter is that ketamine addiction doesn’t always start as a serious problem. It’s the long-term substance abuse that can lead to real physical and mental issues.
If your loved one is abusing ketamine, it’s likely that he or she is experiencing at least some of the common symptoms. Keep an eye on this person to monitor whether these symptoms are visible. If these behavioral patterns persist, you might have to seek professional help.
Ketamine is a dissociative drug. In other words, it’s a substance that causes the user to become disoriented and detached from reality.
He or she might be escaping from physical pain or emotional turmoil. Either way, long-term abuse of ketamine will only worsen this person’s coping mechanisms. Physical dependence on the drug can develop, which can be difficult to counteract with healthier habits later on.
Since the drug is intentionally disorienting, it often showcases similar symptoms throughout patients. These include loss of memory, sensory impairment, cognitive difficulties, hallucinations, drastic mood swings, and even manic depression. It’s clear that letting ketamine abuse continue is a terrible idea.
Don’t let your loved one suffer longer than they need to. If it’s obvious to you that ketamine is ruining his or her life, don’t hesitate to take action to help them. If you’re still not sure, continue reading.
Warning Signs a Loved One May Be Abusing Ketamine
For the most part, it doesn’t matter what age your loved one is when they’re abusing ketamine. Their overall symptoms and warning signs are going to be the same. Continue reading to learn about the specific effects of ketamine abuse between both parents and children.
Is My Child Using Ketamine?
It’s unfortunate that many parents have to worry about their kids abusing drugs and alcohol these days. In fact, it’s hard for many parents to keep up with all the drugs circulating party scenes. It’s hard to know what kinds of substances are around their teenagers at all.
Ketamine is actually rising in popularity. It’s even classified as a “club drug,” according to NIDA. Statistics show that up to 0.7% of 12th graders have consumed ketamine in the last year alone.
If you’re a parent of a teenager, you need to make sure you stay in the loop. If you find your child portraying more than one symptom of ketamine abuse, it’s time to dig deeper.
Sure, most teenagers appear angst and depressed from time to time. If you know your teenager has been around parties or untrustworthy friends, there might be more to their behavior.
Keep a close eye on him or her. If those depressed episodes develop into more serious aloofness, there might be a chemical imbalance causing the emotional distance. Don’t be afraid to ask your child point-blank about the possibility of an addiction to ketamine.
Is My Parent Using Ketamine?
Sometimes, teenagers or children have to be the more responsible family members. These unlucky youths have to learn that even parents can make mistakes. They have found that their parents’ disorientation and mood swings could be caused by substance abuse.
If you’re a teenager or child concerned about your parent’s drug habits, don’t be afraid. There are plenty of resources available to guide you on the right path. This is true even if you aren’t willing to stage a full-blown intervention.
If you’re worried about a parent being addicted to ketamine, start by reaching out to another trusted family member. If that isn’t an option for you, perhaps you should contact medical professionals or the local authorities.
Intervention for Ketamine Abuse
At this point in the article, you might be considerably worried. Don’t get too overwhelmed. There is still some action you can take to help your loved one if they’re addicted to ketamine.
You’ve likely heard of an intervention before. This process takes place when concerned loved ones confront an individual about his or her unhealthy behavior. The intent is for that individual to see to the error of his or her ways and decide to turn to a more positive lifestyle.
When staging an intervention, though, there are certain things to consider. To start, are you sure you’re the one who should be intervening for this person? It is common practice that only close family members talk about these sensitive subjects.
Still, you might be the best option for intervening. Check out this article for more information on arranging a successful intervention to stop substance abuse.
What To Do After Verifying Ketamine Symptoms and Warning Signs
Someone you care about is potentially abusing the substance ketamine. At this point, you know that continuing that behavior can be dangerous for both that person and yourself. Don’t let more serious issues develop without trying to intervene.
Your loved one deserves your care and concern. As a responsible member of your community, it’s up to you to take the next required steps. Get that person into a treatment program soon instead of putting it off.
We know how important it is to treat ketamine symptoms and warning signs seriously. That’s why we encourage you to continue your research on appropriate treatment options. Check out more information on addiction treatment today to find the best solution for your situation.
