3 ms·

Yeah but that’s not as good of a headline /s

perl4ever 7y ago
People should be careful about scapegoating a drug or technique, but this headline reminds me of another thing that worries me. People seem unnaturally enthused about low dose ketamine recently, in mental health circles. I can't help thinking, that it has the potential for something kind of similar to the opioid crisis. It may be too paranoid, but I sometimes imagine there are forces in the shadows that want this, because having lots of legitimate prescriptions out there would make it easier to victimize people.
- WalterSear 7y ago
  As someone whose been on low dose ketamine for over a year, I don't think this is a relevant concern. Or that the enthusiasm is unwarranted. The intoxication involved is slightly more than a couple of beers. It's not habit forming, apart from being profoundly effective.
  - Ididntdothis 7y ago
    "The intoxication involved is slightly more than a couple of beers. It's not habit forming, apart from being profoundly effective. " Some people get addicted to alcohol, some to opioids, some to chocolate so it wouldn't be surprising if Ketamine filled spot for some people. This shouldn't stop us from using it though.
    - girvo 7y ago
      Alcohol and opiates/opioids both build physical dependence on them. This is markedly difference to “chocolate addiction”, and ketamine does not cause physical dependence either. Compulsive behaviour with regards to a stimulus isn’t addiction on its own, but it is bad!
      - loeg 7y ago
        Specifically, addiction is a disease where people cannot self-moderate or reduce use despite actual harm to themselves. Chronic use, without harm, is not addiction.
    - Dylan16807 7y ago
      How many people would get addicted to alcohol if they never had more than 2-3 beers in a session? Because I don't expect many people to over-dose their prescription before they get addicted.
  - perl4ever 7y ago
    "It's not habit forming" Maybe not. I wasn't expressing any concern about that.
- boomboomsubban 7y ago
  >It may be too paranoid, but I sometimes imagine there are forces in the shadows that want this, because having lots of legitimate prescriptions out there would make it easier to victimize people Who would organize/benefit such a conspiracy? The opioid epidemic was brought on by pharmaceutical corporations trying to make more money, while ketamine is likely already available as a generic that won't make anyone rich. Being able to imagine some way this could be a scam isn't enough. Some kind of evidence us needed as if you're wrong, people will continue to suffer without the help they need.
- ketamine__ 7y ago
  It has no potential to be anything like the opioid crisis. It's virtually impossible to find any case of ketamine causing a fatality from its administration.

People should be careful about scapegoating a drug or technique, but this headline reminds me of another thing that worries me. People seem unnaturally enthused about low dose ketamine recently, in mental health circles. I can't help thinking, that it has the potential for something kind of similar to the opioid crisis. It may be too paranoid, but I sometimes imagine there are forces in the shadows that want this, because having lots of legitimate prescriptions out there would make it easier to victimize people.

WalterSear 7y ago
As someone whose been on low dose ketamine for over a year, I don't think this is a relevant concern. Or that the enthusiasm is unwarranted. The intoxication involved is slightly more than a couple of beers. It's not habit forming, apart from being profoundly effective.
- Ididntdothis 7y ago
  "The intoxication involved is slightly more than a couple of beers. It's not habit forming, apart from being profoundly effective. " Some people get addicted to alcohol, some to opioids, some to chocolate so it wouldn't be surprising if Ketamine filled spot for some people. This shouldn't stop us from using it though.
  - girvo 7y ago
    Alcohol and opiates/opioids both build physical dependence on them. This is markedly difference to “chocolate addiction”, and ketamine does not cause physical dependence either. Compulsive behaviour with regards to a stimulus isn’t addiction on its own, but it is bad!
    - loeg 7y ago
      Specifically, addiction is a disease where people cannot self-moderate or reduce use despite actual harm to themselves. Chronic use, without harm, is not addiction.
  - Dylan16807 7y ago
    How many people would get addicted to alcohol if they never had more than 2-3 beers in a session? Because I don't expect many people to over-dose their prescription before they get addicted.
- perl4ever 7y ago
  "It's not habit forming" Maybe not. I wasn't expressing any concern about that.
boomboomsubban 7y ago
>It may be too paranoid, but I sometimes imagine there are forces in the shadows that want this, because having lots of legitimate prescriptions out there would make it easier to victimize people Who would organize/benefit such a conspiracy? The opioid epidemic was brought on by pharmaceutical corporations trying to make more money, while ketamine is likely already available as a generic that won't make anyone rich. Being able to imagine some way this could be a scam isn't enough. Some kind of evidence us needed as if you're wrong, people will continue to suffer without the help they need.
ketamine__ 7y ago
It has no potential to be anything like the opioid crisis. It's virtually impossible to find any case of ketamine causing a fatality from its administration.