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Ketamine Breakthrough Cures Severe Alcoholism in Groundbreaking Trial
23 Jul
Summary
- Father-of-one Grant Smith overcame severe alcoholism through a ketamine-based treatment
- The trial, run by the University of Exeter, combined ketamine infusions with cognitive behavioral therapy
- Participants who received the ketamine-therapy combo remained sober 86% of the time over 6 months
In 2019, 58-year-old Grant Smith from Somerset, UK, found himself spiraling into severe alcoholism after facing redundancy from his job and the loss of his mother within a few months. Despite seeking help from his GP, Grant was told he was "not drinking enough" to qualify for professional treatment.
Determined to overcome his addiction, Grant came across a Facebook ad for a medical trial run by the University of Exeter, which was exploring the use of ketamine as a potential breakthrough treatment for alcohol use disorder. Enrolling in the trial, Grant received a series of ketamine infusions alongside cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) sessions.
The results were remarkable. Participants who received the ketamine-therapy combo went from drinking daily to remaining sober 86% of the time over a six-month period, significantly outperforming the control group that received only CBT and placebo infusions. Experts believe the ketamine helps combat the depressive mood that often leads to relapse in alcohol addiction.
Four years after completing the trial, Grant remains sober and no longer feels the urge to drink, even in social situations with alcohol present. Researchers are hopeful that this groundbreaking treatment will soon be available through the NHS, as it has the potential to dramatically reduce relapse rates and ease the burden on addiction services.
