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Condition · Substance Use Disorder

Ketamine therapy for substance use disorder in DC, Maryland & Virginia

Substance use disorder affects an estimated 20.4 million Americans age 12 and older, and breaking the cycle often takes more than willpower alone. Ketamine is being studied as a way to reduce cravings and support the psychological work recovery requires — administered only in a controlled clinical setting, coordinated with your broader care team.

Book a free consult(301) 381-8381
A calm, monitored infusion room for recovery-focused ketamine therapy
10+ yrsTreating patients in the DMV
4.9★Average Google rating
5Clinics across DC, MD & VA
1,000+Patients treated to date

Ketamine may help substance use disorder in several ways: it increases neuroplasticity, which can help reduce cravings and build new patterns of thinking; it can facilitate psychological insight into the roots of addiction; and its rapid antidepressant effects can ease the depression that often drives relapse. This is still an emerging area of research, and treatment is only appropriate within a controlled clinical setting, coordinated closely with your broader care team — including any addiction specialist or recovery program you are already working with.

You may recognise yourself here

If several of these describe your last few months, a consult is worth thirty minutes of your time.

  • Cravings that feel impossible to manage, even when you want to stop
  • A cycle of use and relapse despite genuinely wanting to change
  • Substance use tangled up with depression, anxiety or trauma
  • Withdrawal symptoms that have made past attempts to stop feel unbearable
  • Feeling stuck despite therapy, support groups or prior treatment
  • Using a substance to numb pain that has not been addressed directly
  • Relationships or work strained by substance use
  • Wanting a treatment that addresses what is underneath the addiction, not just the behavior

And you have already tried things

  • Detox or rehab programs that helped short-term but did not prevent relapse
  • Support groups or 12-step programs that help but have not broken the cycle alone
  • Medication-assisted treatment without enough relief from cravings
  • Being told relapse means you did not try hard enough

That history matters — it is exactly what makes a different mechanism worth considering.

Why It Persists

Why substance use disorder can stall and how ketamine works differently

Increasing neuroplasticity, reducing cravings

Ketamine increases neuroplasticity in the brain, which can help break the cycle of addiction with newer patterns of thinking and may help reduce cravings for addictive substances.

Building psychological insight

Ketamine can facilitate profound psychological insights and emotional breakthroughs, which can be crucial for working through the underlying causes of addiction.

Easing the depression that drives relapse

Many people with substance use disorder also experience depression. Ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects can alleviate depressive symptoms, which in turn can help reduce the likelihood of relapse.

Where the evidence is still developing

The use of ketamine for addiction treatment is still being studied. It should only be administered by qualified professionals in a controlled clinical environment, with care coordinated among your full healthcare team — which is exactly how we approach it.

Our team monitors you throughout your session so that you can relax and feel safe.

How Avesta Treats It

Our treatment options

We do not sell one package to everyone. After screening, your clinician recommends the path with the strongest evidence for your history — and says so plainly when ketamine is not the answer.

Most common starting point

IV Ketamine Therapy

Best studied route, aimed at reducing cravings and building new patterns of thinking

  • 45–60 minute sessions, six to eight over two to three weeks
  • Dose titrated to you, adjusted between sessions
  • Clinician and vitals monitoring throughout
  • Boosters scheduled only when your response calls for it
Treatment details →
Insurance pathway

Spravato (esketamine)

When depression sits underneath the substance use and you need insurance coverage

  • The only FDA-approved esketamine treatment, for TRD
  • In-network with many plans
  • Delivered in our REMS-certified clinics
  • Two-hour monitored visit, twice weekly at first
Treatment details →

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

When long-standing patterns or trauma are tangled up with the depressive episodes

  • Licensed therapist in the room to provide trauma support
  • Structured preparation and integration sessions
  • Coordinated with your existing therapist
Treatment details →

Integration Coaching

Between and after sessions, to make the gains hold

  • Accompanied by a psychedelic- or ketamine-trained coach
  • Preparation for your first treatment
  • Sitting sessions during treatment for emotional support if wanted
  • Integration sessions after
Treatment details →

What To Expect

From first call to maintenance, step by step

  1. 01

    Free 30-minute consult

    A clinician reviews your diagnosis, medications and history, answers questions and tells you candidly whether ketamine is a reasonable next step. No referral needed, no cost, no obligation.

  2. 02

    Medical & psychiatric screening

    Blood pressure, cardiac and psychiatric history, current prescriptions and substance history are reviewed before anything is scheduled. Some people are safely declined at this stage — that is the point of it.

  3. 03

    Your first session

    You arrive with a ride home arranged. Dosing takes 45–60 minutes in a private room with a clinician present, followed by a short recovery period. Most people describe it as floaty and dreamlike, not frightening.

  4. 04

    The initial series

    Six to eight sessions over two to three weeks. Many patients notice a shift around the fifth or sixth session; your provider re-scores symptoms and adjusts dose along the way.

  5. 05

    Integration

    Coaching or KAP alongside the series, plus written updates to your therapist, psychiatrist or primary care provider so everyone is treating the same plan.

  6. 06

    Maintenance

    Boosters scheduled by response, not by package. If you are not responding, we say so and help you look at other options.

Free 30-Minute Consult

  • No cost, no referral needed
  • Benefits checked up front
  • A clinician on every call
Book my consult(301) 381-8381

Please do not include medical details in web forms. In a crisis, call 988.

Other Conditions We Treat

Dr. Ladan Eshkevari, PhD, CRNA, FAAN, founder of Avesta Ketamine and Wellness, with a patient
Who Sets Our Protocols

Dr. Ladan Eshkevari, PhD, CRNA, FAAN

Founder & Co-CEO · Georgetown University faculty

Dr. Eshkevari led a study with her Georgetown graduate students published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, supporting ketamine therapy for people living with treatment-resistant depression. She sets the clinical protocols used at every Avesta clinic.

Read the published study (PDF)Watch her interview

Patient Reviews

What real patients say on Google

ExcellentBased on 225 reviews
Write a review
Amy GutierrezAugust 18, 2026BethesdaGoogle
I have had the pleasure of going to 3 locations- Bethesda, Tyson, and DC. Every experience has been phenomenal and the staff makes sure you are heard and happy. Both before the infusion and afterwards. They are all amazing and have the best bedside manners!
Wendy LaffermanSeptember 25, 2026ColumbiaGoogle
This was my first visit to Avesta for a Ketamine infusion for chronic migraine pain comorbid with mental health diagnosis.

Coming in with a lot of anxiety due to past experiences, I was greeted by Nyla who was kind, patient, and empathetic throughout my entire visit. She was there to answer any questions I had. The environment was quiet and peaceful; with a sign as a reminder.

My practitioner, Nate, was amazing. He was caring and intentional. Communicated every step of the process and eased all my fears; specifically getting the IV on the first stick!! Both checked in on me often throughout the infusion to ensure I was having the best possible experience.

I’m incredibly grateful that I found this place and am looking forward to my next visit!
Kate GowingAugust 2, 2026Norfolk/Virginia BeachGoogle
Great treatment, been coming to Avesta in DC for a while. Glad they finally opened closer to me.
Spencer AgostiniAugust 2, 2026TysonsGoogle
Avesta is the best ketamine clinic in Northern Virginia. I did my research and I'm so glad I decided to go with Avesta.
Matthew ConnorsSeptember 10, 2026Washington DCGoogle
Nice atmosphere, professional staff that are also warm and friendly. I won't go anywhere else.
Paul ThompsonJuly 3, 2026BethesdaGoogle
Meghan was well informed, polite, answered all of my questions clearly and in the context of our conversation she provided information she discerned to be important to me.
Toby KatesAugust 2, 2026ColumbiaGoogle
Excellent clinic for Spravato treatments, they are so friendly and welcoming.
Carole WilkinsFebruary 10, 2026TysonsGoogle
As always the experience was top notch. Nate and Gillian saw to it that my needs were met and questions answered. I always feel like I’m in the best hands when I’m there. These treatments are life savers for me.
Elsa AlaswadJuly 18, 2026Washington DCGoogle
This place is a haven for me. What makes it the most special are the people who work here, especially Abigail and Arielle. They make the whole experience feel safe and comfortable. Abigail is a wonderful and caring future physician who makes you feel right at home. She’s a joy to have around. Arielle is an expert at IV placement in addition to being an amazing healthcare provider with impeccable bedside manner. I love to see she’s the NP on because I know I’m gonna be in extremely capable hands. Avesta is my happy place. Thank you for making my life better.
D SMay 3, 2026BethesdaGoogle
Excellent service and facility.
Carolyn ErwinAugust 1, 2026ColumbiaGoogle
No complaints. Always feel better after my sessions!
B CJanuary 16, 2026TysonsGoogle
I love this place. It’s comfortable and the staff is so nice. Dion Gillian and Mimi are the best. I highly recommend them.

What The Care Looks Like

Setting your expectations

Weeks, not monthsTypical onset

If you are responsive to Ketamine, the effects can be felt around the 5th or 6th session. For responders, ketamine's effects can be measurable far faster than oral medications.

6-8 sessionsStandard initial series

Delivered over two to three weeks, then reassessed against your baseline scores.

Symptom scoringAt every visit

We send you mood surveys to track validated symptom scales so that you can recognize how far you've come, in addition to how your mood progresses.

Individual results vary. The use of ketamine for substance use disorder is still being studied and is not FDA-approved for this indication; treatment should only occur in a controlled clinical setting with care coordinated among your full healthcare team. Spravato (esketamine) is FDA-approved only for treatment-resistant depression and for depressive symptoms in adults with MDD with acute suicidal ideation or behavior. Nothing here is a promise of outcome or a substitute for evaluation by a clinician.

Candidacy

You may be a candidate if…

Screening happens before anything is booked. Being told no is a legitimate outcome of a consult.

Likely a good fit

  • You are 18 or older with a diagnosed substance use disorder (alcohol, opioid or another)
  • You are medically stable and not in acute withdrawal or currently intoxicated
  • You are engaged with, or willing to engage with, a broader care team — an addiction specialist, therapist or recovery program
  • Your blood pressure and cardiac history are stable or well managed
  • You can arrange a ride home after each session

We would pause or refer out if

  • You are currently in acute withdrawal or actively intoxicated
  • Uncontrolled high blood pressure, or recent heart attack or stroke
  • Active, untreated psychosis or mania
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Your history points to a higher level of care (such as inpatient detox) before ketamine is appropriate; we refer out rather than sell you a series

Safety standards on every visit

  • Full medical and psychiatric history reviewed before your first visit
  • A clinician is present and vitals are monitored for every dose
  • Emergency protocols and medications on site at every clinic
  • LegitScript-certified practice, REMS-certified for Spravato
  • Written coordination with your therapist, psychiatrist and primary care team

Insurance & Cost

In plain terms, before you commit

We verify your benefits and give you an out-of-pocket estimate on your consult call.

Spravato

In-network with many commercial plans. We run your benefits and give you an out-of-pocket estimate before you commit to anything.

IV ketamine

Generally out-of-network. We provide superbills for reimbursement claims and HSA/FSA funds are usually eligible.

Veterans & military families

We work with Veterans Affairs Community Care to serve our military families directly.

First responders 

Ask during your consult call for discounted pricing for first responders, current military or veterans. 

Locations

Our Ketamine Clinics in Washington, DC, Maryland & Virginia

Every Avesta location is staffed by a licensed clinician for every session.

Washington, DC clinic
Washington, DC

1400 16th St NW, Suite 101

(202) 735-1183
Bethesda, Maryland clinic
Bethesda, Maryland

4833 Rugby Ave, #400

(301) 200-9333
Columbia, Maryland clinic
Columbia, Maryland

5840 Banneker Rd, Suite 270

(301) 381-8381
Tysons, Virginia clinic
Tysons, Virginia

8000 Towers Crescent Dr, Suite A150

(703) 646-6343
Norfolk / Virginia Beach, Virginia clinic
Norfolk / Virginia Beach, Virginia

6275 E. Virginia Beach Blvd, Suite 103

(301) 381-8381

FAQs

Common questions about substance use disorder

Is ketamine FDA-approved for substance use disorder?

No. The use of ketamine for substance use disorder is still being studied and is not FDA-approved for this indication. Spravato (esketamine) is FDA-approved specifically for treatment-resistant depression and for MDD with acute suicidal ideation or behavior. On your consult we explain what the current evidence does and does not support.

Will you coordinate with my addiction specialist or recovery program?

Yes, and we consider it essential. Treatment here is meant to work alongside your existing care team, not replace it. We will ask permission to coordinate with your addiction specialist, therapist or program before beginning.

How quickly might I feel a difference?

Ketamine acts far faster than oral antidepressants — some people notice a change within days. In a standard six-to-eight-session series, patients most often report a meaningful shift around the fifth or sixth session. Some do not respond, and we tell you rather than extending the series indefinitely.

Can I keep taking my current medications?

Usually yes, including medication-assisted treatment such as buprenorphine or naltrexone. Your clinician will review your full medication list and coordinate any changes with your prescriber — never on your own.

What does a session actually feel like?

Most people describe a floaty, dreamlike state with altered sense of time and body, lasting about the length of the dose. It is not painful and you remain able to communicate with the clinician in the room. Nausea and mild dizziness are the most common side effects and are treatable on the spot.

How much does it cost?

It depends on the route. Spravato is in-network with many plans; IV ketamine is typically out-of-network with superbills provided. We verify your benefits and quote your out-of-pocket cost before you schedule — no surprise billing.

Do I need a referral?

No. You can book a free consult directly. If you have an addiction specialist, therapist or recovery program, we will ask permission to coordinate with them, because outcomes are better when your care team is aligned.

Which clinic should I go to?

We have five: Washington DC, Bethesda, Columbia, Tysons and Norfolk/Virginia Beach. Not every clinic offers every treatment, so we match you to the nearest location that offers the route you need.