Along with the University of Oxford, the University of Edinburgh (UoE) has been at the forefront of this exploration.
The UoE research project involves an evaluability assessment (EULA), a methodology that determines how well a policy or programme can be evaluated in practice. This assessment focused on ketamine’s use in treating depression and addiction, aiming to understand its feasibility, effectiveness, and implications for public health policy in Scotland.
The evaluability assessment isn’t just about scientific data, it’s also about ensuring the practical and ethical considerations of introducing ketamine into public healthcare systems.
The researchers looked at questions such as:
- Effectiveness: Can ketamine deliver measurable benefits for patients in Scotland?
- Accessibility: How can ketamine treatments be made available to those who need them most?
- Safety: What safeguards are needed to prevent misuse or dependency on ketamine?
By addressing these questions, the study aimed to provide policymakers with a roadmap for integrating ketamine treatments into Scotland’s national healthcare system.
What Could Policy Change Look Like?
If ketamine proves to be a viable treatment option, it could lead to significant changes in Scotland’s public mental health and addiction policies.
Inclusion in NHS Treatment Options
One of the most immediate changes could be the inclusion of ketamine therapy in NHS Scotland’s mental health services. This would make the treatment accessible to patients regardless of their financial situation, ensuring equity in healthcare.
The earlier phase of this research (which looked at ketamine therapy for alcoholism) was incredibly promising, which saw 86% of participants remain sober 6 months post trial.
NHS ketamine-assisted therapy clinical trials are currently still ongoing.
Specialised Clinics Across the UK
Ketamine therapy requires careful administration and monitoring, often in a clinical setting, such as what we offer here at Eulas for treatment-resistant depression.
New policy and accessibility to ketamine therapy could lead to specialised clinics being able to treat both certain addictions and mental conditions through NHS referrals.
Public Awareness Campaigns
Introducing ketamine as a legitimate treatment option would likely require public education efforts to remove the myths and reduce the stigma associated with ketamine.
Street ketamine and medical ketamine are not the same. Campaigns may need to focus on explaining how medical ketamine and combined psychotherapy work, its benefits, and the safeguards in place to prevent misuse.
The Key Challenges and Ethical Considerations
Although the potential benefits of ketamine-assisted therapy on a larger scale is truly exciting, there are also significant challenges to consider.
The very qualities that make ketamine effective, its rapid action and hallucinogenic effects, also pose risks. Not everybody will be eligible for this treatment, and any policy change would need to address these issues head-on.
As it stands, it’s impossible to provide psychedelic-assisted treatment for free because the costs involved are simply too high. This type of therapy requires highly experienced and trained professionals, such as therapists and medical staff, who specialise in psychedelics, which is a niche field with extensive training requirements.
The sessions also need to take place in carefully controlled environments to ensure patient safety, which adds to the costs of facilities and equipment. Additionally, the medications themselves, along with the necessary research and licensing to make them legally available, are expensive.
So, without the cost associated with treatment, it would be impossible to cover these costs and keep the service running.
Although private providers would need to charge to make the system sustainable and ensure quality care, if the NHS trials result in providing ketamine therapy on the national health, referrals could be made through private clinics – this would come at little to no cost to the individual in need of treatment.
The Global Context: Learning from Other Countries
The UK isn’t alone in exploring ketamine’s potential. Other countries, such as the United States and Australia, have already introduced ketamine therapy (in limited settings), providing valuable lessons that we can draw upon.
In Scotland, for example, we at Eulas are the first clinic ever to offer this treatment. In the US, private clinics offering ketamine infusions have become increasingly common. However, the lack of regulation has led to significant disparities in access and quality of care. We have the opportunity to avoid these pitfalls by adopting a more centralised and regulated approach.
The Key Takeaways
For individuals struggling with depression or addiction, the prospect of ketamine therapy offers a real glimmer of hope, and the prospect of this treatment being accessible is close.
Traditional treatments can feel like a long, uphill battle, particularly for those with treatment-resistant conditions. Ketamine, when combined with psychotherapy, can have repaid effects and provide much-needed relief, improve quality of life, and even save lives.
The University of Edinburgh’s research into ketamine therapy represents exploring the feasibility of this treatment through an assessment, and the study has contributed to laying the groundwork for informed and effective policy change.
Although challenges remain, the potential benefits of ketamine therapy are too significant to ignore. If you’re interested in learning more, contact us today.
