Teenagers who gravitate towards the party scene encounter a range of illicit substances, one of which is Ketamine. Ketamine, one of the more popular “club drugs”, produces anesthetic effects as well as hallucinatory experiences. According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, Ketamine effects result from radical changes in brain chemical activity.

Considering the critical developmental stages that take place throughout the teenage years, frequent Ketamine use can greatly impair a teenager’s health and psychological stability both now and in future years. Being able to identify Ketamine abuse and seek out needed Ketamine treatment as soon as possible can go a long way towards protecting your teen from a lifetime of drug use.

Get your teen help for Ketamine abuse today by calling 800-915-1270 (Who Answers?).

Ketamine’s Effects on Teens

Rates of Ketamine abuse in teens are increasing.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, 8th graders, 10th graders and 12th graders had high rates of Ketamine abuse in 2012, with 0.8 percent of 8th graders, 1.2 percent of 10th graders and 1.5 percent of 12th graders abusing Ketamine on a regular basis.

Ketamine belongs to the Schedule III class of narcotic drugs. While nowhere near as addictive as heroin or cocaine, regular use of Ketamine can cause considerable damage to a teen’s health and psychological well-being. Harmful Ketamine effects may take the form of:

• Damage to nerve cells throughout the brain
• Increases in heart rate
• Damage to teeth
• Memory impairment
• Psychological dysfunction

Signs of Ketamine Abuse

A teenager’s brain undergoes significant changes which impact his or her cognitive and emotional development. Identity formation also takes place during this time. Any interference in the brain’s chemical processing can have long-lasting effects on overall development into adulthood.

By the time a teen requires Ketamine treatment help, he or she will likely display noticeable symptoms of Ketamine abuse. According to Penn State, symptoms of Ketamine abuse may take the form of:

• Antisocial-type behaviors
• Symptoms of depression
• Suicidal ideations
• Decline in school performance
• Decline in grooming and appearance

What are the Long-Term Effects of Ketamine Abuse on My Teenager?

Ketamine Treatment Approaches

In general, the longer a teen abuses ketamine the more intensive his or her treatment should be. Ketamine treatment approaches focus on helping teens develop the type of mindset that supports ongoing abstinence from drugs.

Commonly used Ketamine treatment approaches include:

• Group therapy
• Motivational enhancement therapy
• Family-based interventions

Group therapy provides a setting where teens confront drug-using behaviors and the situations and emotions that drive them to turn to drugs. During the course of group therapy, teens develop healthy ways of expressing difficult emotions and working through conflicts.

Motivational enhancement therapy helps teens identify drug-using patterns and the emotional conflicts that drive these behaviors, according to the U. S. National Library of Medicine. Teens also learn to develop healthy ways of coping with and working through conflicting emotions and difficult choices.

Family-based interventions play an important part in a teen’s recovery process. Ketamine treatment programs offer parenting programs as well as family therapy treatment. These interventions help to enhance communications within the family unit and provide the type of structure and routine needed to support a teen’s recovery efforts.

Considerations

Ketamine abuse can pose a considerable threat to a teen’s overall well-being, both now and in the future. Considering how this drug impacts brain development in teens, it’s essential for parents to seek out needed Ketamine treatment help at the first sign of Ketamine use.

Get help finding treatment for your teen; call 800-915-1270 (Who Answers?) now. Calls are 100% confidential and free.