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What Next: TBD | This Is Your Brain On Ketamine
Mar 30, 2025
Shayla Love, a science journalist known for her insightful reporting on ketamine, dives into its fascinating dual nature in this discussion. She reveals how ketamine, originally an anesthetic, has evolved into a controversial treatment for depression, sparking both intrigue and concern in mental health and tech circles. Love explores the psychological risks tied to recreational use versus therapeutic applications. Plus, she shares the implications of this ‘ketamine revolution’ on wellness culture, revealing both the promises and perils of this complex treatment.
28:35
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Quick takeaways
- Ketamine has evolved from a party drug to a therapeutic option for depression, raising concerns about safety and treatment consistency.
- The growing popularity of ketamine in wellness circles highlights ethical dilemmas regarding its use among influential figures and potential cognitive risks.
Deep dives
Understanding Ketamine's Effects
Ketamine is identified as a dissociative anesthetic that can lead to feelings of detachment from the body and euphoric sensations. Users have reported experiences that range from a floating sensation to profound emotional highs, often likening it to being tipsy or intoxicated at lower doses. Its medical use includes a history as an emergency anesthetic, and it has more recently been approved for treating depression in a controlled form known as S-ketamine, or Spravato. However, the podcast highlights concerns about the long-term cognitive and psychological effects of high doses and recreational use, particularly the phenomenon known as a 'K-hole', which induces extreme dissociation and detachment from reality.
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