Ketamine’s dual edge: Antidepressant, wellness fad or dangerous drug? – Lisa Jarvis

In the wake of actor Matthew Perry's tragic death from ketamine, a drug lauded for its potential in treating depression, a crucial debate arises: how to balance expanding access for therapeutic use while curbing rising instances of abuse. Ketamine clinics, on the rise in the US, face scrutiny for potential exploitation and unproven treatments. With law enforcement seizures surging, concerns mount over the drug's misuse. Regulators must address the blurred lines of ketamine's therapeutic and recreational use, ensuring safe practices and fostering research for effective, accessible alternatives.

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By Lisa Jarvis

When an autopsy revealed that actor Matthew Perry died of "acute effects of ketamine," it put fresh attention on an ongoing debate in the field of psychiatry: What's the right balance between expanding access to a drug that can treat depression and imposing boundaries to prevent its abuse?

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