Role of ketamine in the treatment of substance use disorders: A systematic review.
Reinhard Janssen-Aguilar, Shakila Meshkat, Ilya Demchenko, Yanbo Zhang, Andrew J. Greenshaw, Walter Dunn, Robert Tanguay, Leah M. Mayo, Jennifer Swainson, Rakesh Jetly, Venkat Bhat
Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment August 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2025.209705 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 551 |
| Population | Participants with substance use disorders (alcohol, cocaine, opioid, cannabis) |
| Intervention | Ketamine |
| Dose | 0.11 mg/kg to 2.0 mg/kg |
| Duration | Less than a day to two years |
| Topics | Addiction Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Sud Systematic review Addiction treatment Ketamine therapy Substance use disorders Clinical research Psychiatric medicine |
| Citations | 12 |
| Key findings | Ketamine shows short-term efficacy across various substance use disorders, reducing withdrawal, craving, and use, and improving abstinence, but evidence is limited by small samples and few randomized trials. |
Abstract
Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) involve diminished control, risky use, impaired social interactions, and physical dependence. Despite their global prevalence and burden, treatment options remain limited. Ketamine (KET), an NMDA receptor antagonist, may aid SUD treatment by modulating glutamatergic neurotransmission. This systematic review evaluates KET's role in SUD treatment. This review surveyed three databases until June 2024, including 14 studies with 551 participants. Among the 14 studies, 6 focused on alcohol, 3 on cocaine, 4 on opioids, and 1 on cannabis. Seven studies (50 %) combined KET with psychotherapy, while seven (50 %) focused solely on KET's pharmacological effects. KET dose ranges varied from 0.11 mg/kg to 2.0 mg/kg and study primary endpoints ranged from less than a day to two years. The results of the included studies demonstrated KET's efficacy across various SUDs. In Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), KET reduced withdrawal symptoms and benzodiazepine requirements. In Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD), KET decreased craving and increased abstinence rates. In Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), high-dose KET psychotherapy (KPT) improved abstinence and reduced craving. In Cannabis Use Disorder (CNUD), KET reduced weekly use and increased abstinence confidence. Conclusion: While preliminary studies suggest that KET may have short-term benefits in treating SUDs, the evidence remains limited by small sample sizes and a lack of randomized trials. Further research with larger, well-controlled studies is needed to determine optimal dosing, clarify mechanisms of action, and assess long-term efficacy and potential risks, including abuse liability, before broader clinical implementation can be recommended.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on ketamine for addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketamine use: a review Ketamine users | 2011 | Systematic review | |
| Ketamine for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders: comprehensive systematic review | 2021 | Systematic review | |
| Therapeutic Potentials of Ketamine and Esketamine in Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and Eating Disorders (ED): A Review of the Current Literature | 2021 | Systematic review | |
| Efficacy of ketamine intervention to decrease alcohol use, cravings, and withdrawal symptoms in adults with problematic alcohol use or alcohol use disorder: A systematic review and comprehensive analysis of mechanism of actions. People with harmful alcohol use, alcohol craving, or alcohol withdrawal states,... | 2022 | Systematic review | n = 634 |
| Ketamine Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Systematic Review. Adult patients with alcohol use disorder, heavy drinkers, or those undergoing alcohol... | 2023 | Systematic review | n = 854 |