In This Post:

• Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder
• The Role of Ketamine in Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment
• Evidence That Ketamine Therapy Can Reduce Alcohol Use
• Risks of Combining Ketamine and Alcohol Outside of Treatment
• The Bottom Line: Taking The Next Step to Treat AUD
• FAQ

Alcohol use disorder affects millions of Americans, including thousands across the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) region. Traditional therapies like counseling, detoxification programs, and medication-assisted therapies help. However, relapse is still common. Ketamine treatment for alcohol use issues is an evidence-based treatment alternative.

This article explores how ketamine and alcohol use disorder intersect in emerging clinical research. It also outlines the benefits of ketamine therapy for people with AUD, the health risks of combining ketamine and alcohol outside a clinical setting, and what patients in the DMV area should know before starting treatment.

Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder 

Alcohol use disorder  (AUD) is a chronic condition where a person cannot control their drinking despite negative consequences. AUD ranges from mild to severe and often includes cycles of craving, loss of control, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms.

AUD is a significant issue in the United States and the Washington, DC area. According to a review of more than 200 studies:

• Over 29 million adults in the U.S. experienced alcohol use disorder  in 2022
• In Washington, DC, binge-drinking rates are above the national average
• Many individuals struggle to find long-term recovery, with relapse rates over 40%

Traditional AUD Treatment (and Its Limitations)

Traditional treatment for alcohol use disorder typically follows a multi-step, evidence-based approach. The goal is to help people:

• Stop drinking
• Manage withdrawal symptoms
• Avoid relapse
• Build long-term recovery

Traditional approaches, such as medical detoxification (withdrawal management), behavioral therapies and counseling, peer support, and rehabilitation programs, help many people overcome AUD. However, relapse rates are high due to various reasons, such as:

• Untreated underlying mental health issues
• Unaddressed social or environmental triggers
• Declining motivation over time
• Unwanted effects from FDA-approved medications, such as Naltrexone (oral or injection), Acamprosate (Campral), Disulfiram (Antabuse), and benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam or lorazepam).

Innovative treatments like ketamine-assisted therapy are beneficial for several issues that contribute to compulsive drinking and poor recovery outcomes. 

The Role of Ketamine in Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment

Ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic. However, at lower, subanesthetic doses, it provides powerful relief for mental health and substance use disorders (SUD). Clinical ketamine infusions produce a dissociative psychedelic experience that works on the brain’s glutamate system. This mechanism can help “reset” harmful neural pathways associated with substance use, depression, and other treatment-resistant conditions.

Benefits of ketamine therapy for AUD can include:

• Reduced cravings and compulsive urges to drink
• Improved mood and emotional regulation, especially when paired with counseling
• Increased ability to maintain abstinence over time

Evidence That Ketamine Therapy Can Reduce Alcohol Use

Recent clinical studies and reviews show that ketamine-assisted therapy can support recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD)—especially when combined with talk therapy. Proven benefits include:

Fewer Cravings and Less Alcohol Use

A 2023 Frontiers in Psychiatry review (source) found that ketamine treatment led to:

• Reduced alcohol cravings
• Lower overall consumption
• Increased abstinence days compared to standard treatment

Higher Abstinence and Lower Relapse Risk

• A 2021 American Journal of Psychiatry trial reported that alcohol use disorder and ketamine therapy were well-tolerated together, resulting in higher abstinence rates and reduced relapse risk (source).

• In a major UK-based study, 87% of participants remained sober for six months after receiving ketamine and alcohol therapy monitored by professionals (source). 

• A Columbia University report stated that a single ketamine dose, paired with memory recall and counseling, significantly reduced alcohol use for weeks to months (source).

Disrupted Harmful Drinking Patterns

A Nature Communications study showed that ketamine can disrupt reconsolidated alcohol-related memories, the ingrained emotional associations and habits linked to drinking. Ketamine interrupts the brain’s process of “replaying and reinforcing” these memories, which weakens alcohol’s grip on behavior. 

As a result, ketamine patients drank significantly less than those in the control group and reported a reduced long-term urge to drink (source).

Boosted Motivation and Confidence

In a pilot clinical study, ketamine increased participants’ confidence to abstain from alcohol by an average of 52% from baseline (source). Researchers concluded this psychological shift contributed to long-term recovery motivation.

Avesta Ketamine and Wellness (Avesta) has seen similar improvements in patient motivation and control over drinking habits with personalized infusion protocols and supportive long-term care. Eight years and over 10,000 infusions in its D.C., Maryland, and Virginia ketamine clinics prove that alternative therapies for AUD can work. 

Contact Avesta’s ketamine care team if you are are loved one is struggling with alcohol use disorder and can’t find relief through traditional treatments. 

Risks of Combining Ketamine and Alcohol Outside of Treatment

Ketamine therapy can be safe and effective for alcohol use disorder (AUD) in clinically supervised settings. But people must be fully detoxed before starting treatment. Outside of these contexts, combining ketamine and alcohol introduces serious health risks (source). The two substances interact in ways that can compromise physical safety, mental clarity, and long-term treatment outcomes.

Short-Term Dangers: Immediate Impact on Brain and Body

Ketamine and alcohol depress the central nervous system. Taken together, they can amplify each other’s effects and lead to:

• Increased sedation: Ketamine and alcohol together cause extreme drowsiness, slowed breathing, and in severe cases, unconsciousness.
• Mental impairment: Combined, these substances can also cause nausea, confusion, and impaired coordination, heightening the risk of blackouts, injury, or overdose.

Long-Term Health Consequences of Co-Use

Prolonged or repeated use of ketamine and alcohol in combination may contribute to:

• Liver and kidney damage
• Cardiovascular issues
• Gastrointestinal inflammation and digestive problems
• Cognitive decline and memory loss 
• Heightened risk of anxiety, depression, or psychotic episodes

Drinking during or after ketamine therapy can also reduce its therapeutic effectiveness and increase the likelihood of relapse. To ensure the best outcomes, Avesta’s ketamine clinics in Washington, DC, Bethesda, McLean, and Columbia prioritize patient safety through carefully monitored protocols and expert care.

The Bottom Line: Taking The Next Step to Treat AUD

Ketamine-assisted therapy may offer a breakthrough for people seeking a new path in alcohol recovery. Avesta Ketamine and Wellness delivers personalized treatment plans, monitors each patient closely, and connects them with counseling support when needed. Its clinics provide compassionate support to patients across the DMV region.

Reach out today to explore whether ketamine therapy at Avesta is the right next step in your recovery. You’ll receive a free consultation and thorough answers to all of your questions.

FAQ

Is ketamine safe for alcoholism?

Yes, ketamine is safe to help with alcohol use disorder (AUD) when used under clinical supervision. Reputable clinics screen for active alcohol use and ensure patients are fully detoxed before beginning treatment to prevent risks from mixing the two substances.

What does ketamine do for alcohol use disorder?

Ketamine infusions can reduce alcohol cravings, improve mood, and help rewire harmful thought patterns that reinforce compulsive behaviors. Ketamine infusions combined with psychotherapy support long-term alcohol recovery and lower relapse risk.

Is ketamine used for alcohol withdrawal?

Providers sometimes administer ketamine for alcohol withdrawal in intensive care units (ICUs) when patients have severe or treatment-resistant alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Studies show that ketamine was typically added late in treatment once standard medications, like benzodiazepines, were not effective or when delirium tremors emerged (source). This approach occurs exclusively in ICU settings under continuous medical supervision.

Is ketamine similar to alcohol?

Ketamine and alcohol are similar in some ways. Both ketamine and alcohol act on similar brain systems to depress the central nervous system. But unlike alcohol, ketamine also boosts brain flexibility (neuroplasticity) and supports mood regulation, which makes it a promising treatment—rather than a harmful substance—when used in a clinical setting.

What happens if you mix alcohol and ketamine?

Mixing ketamine and alcohol can be very dangerous. Combining these substances increases the risk of unconsciousness, memory loss, slowed breathing, and long-term cognitive damage. Never combine them outside a clinical setting.