Ketamine is a drug historically used as a surgical anesthetic that shows incredible promise as a treatment for depression—especially in those cases where traditional antidepressants fail. Of the roughly 8 percent of people in the U.S. who suffer from depression, 30 percent do not respond to commonly prescribed medications. Researchers find that ketamine provides speedy and oftentimes dramatic improvement in these cases, offering a ray of light in a world where depression and anxiety are on the rise…especially among teenagers.
A 2019 Pew report sees 70 percent of teenagers cite depression and anxiety as a “major problem” for them and their peers. This exceeds bullying, alcohol abuse, pregnancy, and gang pressure as the primary concern among teens. The worst outcome of depression—suicide—is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. among people aged 10-34. Accordingly, ketamine’s intervention could not come at a better time.
Seeing ketamine’s success with adults who struggle with treatment-resistant depression, researchers have begun exploring its effectiveness for younger patients. Initial results are encouraging. As reported by Scientific American, in one trial at Yale, adolescents who were ready to end their own lives prior to treatment became bright and hopeful after being introduced to ketamine.
Understandably, parents may be wary of treating an already-struggling teen with a medicine plagued by a dark reputation as a club drug. It is important to keep in mind that in clinical usage ketamine is administered in much smaller doses than when consumed recreationally. Further, reputable ketamine clinics administer ketamine infusions under close medical supervision and rarely provide ketamine in take-home doses, thus preventing it from ending up in the wrong hands.
Though lifesaving in its potential, ketamine, like any powerful drug, must be administered carefully and monitored closely. Professional clinics meet this need and, where no other recourse has been effective, may be a godsend for those desperately seeking an escape from depression’s dark cloud.
Contact Vitalitas Denver
If you know a teenager who is struggling, or if you are a loved one have failed to find relief for your own depressive symptoms, contact our Denver and Fort Collins/Boulder area ketamine clinics today. We are one of the most trusted clinics in the country, and are happy to answer your questions and address any concerns you may have about ketamine infusions for depression.
