The Emerging Crisis in Non-Prescribed Ketamine Use: A Rapid Attenuation of Depression in Face of Abuse and "Chill-out" or Escapism Drug.
Substance Use & Misuse February 1, 2026 Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski, Kenneth Blum, Sergio Schmidt et al.
Since 2000, rates of suicide and opioid overdose have sharply increased. Approximately one-third of individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) experience treatment-resistant depression (TRD), highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches. This review synthesizes pivotal preclinical and clinical findings on low-dose ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects and examines...