Why Ketamine? Myths & Misunderstandings

By Susan Clifton, LCSW-S/August 16, 2025

In the Triangle, ketamine is relatively new. Some medical and mental health providers are informed about ketamine, and others have not really considered its potential value for their patients/clients, causing a gap in information which has been easily filled with myths and misunderstandings.

Myth & Misunderstanding #1

KETAMINE IS AN ADDICTIVE AND UNSAFE “PARTY DRUG” (SPECIAL K).

Reality

  • Ketamine when used correctly is very safe and is regularly used for children undergoing medical procedures.
  • Ketamine has a long safety track record and is one of the top 10 most frequently used medications worldwide according to the World Health Organization.
  • Ketamine without close medical monitoring does carry a risk for addiction. Those who work closely with a local mental health prescriber have a near zero potential of addiction especially when adhering to the KAP “catalyst” approach where ketamine is used as treatment and short-term not as ongoing “maintenance” for years.

Myth & Misunderstanding #2

ONLY PEOPLE WITH SEVERE, TREATMENT-RESISTANT DEPRESSION BENEFIT FROM KETAMINE TREATMENT.

Reality

  • Since 2019, Ketamine (in the form of half molecule esketamine, found in Spravato®) has been FDA-approved and advertised as a treatment for Treatment Resistant Depression. Less advertised are multiple uses of (racemic or full molecule) beyond just TRD when ketamine when used off-label. This is a common practice with medications in psychiatry.
  • Research has shown that ketamine is helpful for up to 70% of individuals diagnosed with depression, anxiety, PTSD, chronic pain, OCD, substance abuse issues, PMDD and other conditions.
  • A large majority of individuals experiencing suicidal ideation are helped within hours or overnight preventing the need for psychiatric hospitalizations.

Myth/Misunderstanding #3

ONCE YOU STOP KETAMINE, THE BENEFITS DISAPPEAR IMMEDIATELY.

Reality

  • Many people experience lasting improvements weeks to months or longer after treatment, especially when they take advantage of the increased neuroplasticity and synaptogenesis using the process of Integration – this is KEY.
  • The KAP experts in the field generally adhere to a short-term treatment approach with possible “booster” sessions rather than continuous treatment which may lead to a decrease in benefits over time and possibly dependency.

Myth/Misunderstanding #4

Reality

  • Even with dose adjustments, some people have little to no visuals, movement or more typical experiences during their medication treatment. The medicine is still on board and able to affect mood, neuroplasticity and synaptogenesis.
  • The protocol for Spravato® intentionally avoids fostering a psychedelic experience by using lower doses more frequently and it can be highly effective for treatment resistant depression.
  • With a KAP approach, we view the ketamine psychedelic trip or journey as part of the total healing experience where the subconscious can express itself through the journey images and the client can work with the information to make greater meaning and/or experience events in the journey that create change.

Myth/Misunderstanding #5

Ketamine is dangerous. It has risks of “bad trips” that can be traumatizing or even lead to death like Matthew Perry.

Reality

  • Ketamine is different than the classical psychedelics. “Bad trips” are associated with classical psychedelics since they tend to focus on the past and sometimes journeys dwell or get stuck there. Ketamine is shorter acting with a gentle action on the brain creating an expansion of perspective with a forward moving journey.
  • That said, ketamine may, for some individuals, “open up” difficult or overwhelming material, as it lowers defenses against painful experiences. While this can feel confusing or disturbing, when approached through KAP it can offer valuable therapeutic material for processing and healing.
  • It is understood that Matthew Perry died as a result of the “acute effects” of ketamine misuse and high self-administered doses which led to unconsciousness and death by drowning. Experts believe if he was not in the hot tub he would not have died.

Learn More

Intranasal Racemic Ketamine Maintenance Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Naturalistic Feasibility Study (BMC Psychiatry, January 2025)

Ketamine for the Treatment of Major Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (eClinicalMedicine, April 2023)

Efficacy and Safety of Racemic Ketamine and Esketamine for Depression: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Expert Opinion on Drug Safety, March 2022)

EVERYONE MUST EXPERIENCE A PSYCHEDELIC JOURNEY OR TRIP BECAUSE IT IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING THE KETAMINE WORKS.

Disclaimer: This post contains information from research, expert consensus and personal observation/opinions. It is not a substitute for individualized, professional consultation. To learn more about our services reach out to Living Arts via our Contact Page.

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