Ketamine Helps Alcoholism Without the High, Study Finds

A groundbreaking study just flipped our understanding of how ketamine helps people overcome alcohol addiction.

Researchers from King's College London and the University of Exeter examined 96 adults with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder who received ketamine therapy. While the drug produced strong psychedelic experiences like altered reality and out-of-body sensations, those trippy effects had nothing to do with whether patients stayed sober.

The finding challenges a popular theory that's dominated addiction treatment discussions. Many experts believed ketamine's therapeutic power came from the intense mystical experiences it creates. This new research, published in Addiction, suggests something completely different is happening in the brain.

"Our results challenge the popular theory that the therapeutic benefits of ketamine are driven by its acute psychoactive or mystical-like effects," said Dr. Will Lawn, who led the study at King's College. Instead, ketamine likely works by altering brain networks related to addiction or helping new neural connections form.

The study followed participants for six months after they received three weekly ketamine infusions. Those who got the real drug consistently experienced profound psychedelic effects across all sessions, showing the drug maintained its intensity without building tolerance. But the strength of those experiences didn't predict how many days they stayed alcohol-free.

This matters enormously for the 85,000 people currently receiving alcohol treatment in England alone, with countless others still needing help. Professor Celia Morgan from the University of Exeter notes that while several effective treatments exist, diversifying options and improving long-term outcomes remains crucial.

The Ripple Effect

Understanding how ketamine actually works could revolutionize addiction treatment. If the therapy succeeds through brain rewiring rather than psychedelic experiences, doctors can focus on optimizing those neural mechanisms. This could lead to more effective dosing strategies and potentially help people who might be hesitant about psychedelic experiences but desperately need treatment.

The research team is already expanding their work. Professor Morgan now leads MORE-KARE, a larger clinical trial recruiting people with alcohol problems across the UK. The study aims to pinpoint exactly how ketamine promotes abstinence, potentially unlocking more targeted and effective treatments.

The discovery also means the therapeutic benefits might be accessible without requiring the intense, sometimes uncomfortable psychedelic journey. For many struggling with addiction, that could make treatment feel more approachable and less intimidating.

This research represents real progress in understanding a treatment that's shown genuine promise, with science catching up to offer better help for those who need it most.