Those prescribed ketamine and psychotherapy did not drink for 87 per cent of the trial (162 of the 180 days), followed by 81.7 per cent alcohol abstinence among those given ketamine and alcohol education classes (147 days).
Meanwhile, those given a placebo drug and therapy were sober for just 77.2 per cent of the six months (139 days) and those given the placebo drug and alcohol education class did not drink alcohol for 70 per cent of the study (126 days) .
It started being used as a party drug in the late 2000s, with people taking it before raves for a more intense experience. .As a class B drug in the UK, possession of ketamine can result in people facing up to five years in jail, while supplying it could mean up to 14 years in prisonThe study was the first of its kind to examine whether ketamine combined with therapy could prevent people from quickly returning to heavy drinking after stopping. Half of the volunteers received psychological therapy, while the remaining participants were given alcohol education classesThose given ketamine and therapy drank more than recommended guidelines on five days over the six-month period, on average. After monitoring the volunteers for six months, the team found those who took the drug were sober for 10.1 per cent more days within the 180-day study than those who were not given the drug. Results from the study also show those given ketamine and therapy had the lowest rates of relapse, with 61.9 per cent of people having drank alcohol within the six-month studyThe rate was higher among those who received therapy alone (66.7 per cent), those given ketamine and alcohol classes (68.2 per cent) and alcohol classes alone (78.3 per cent)The Exeter team argued ketamine could support alcoholics trying to give up alcohol by 'temporarily alleviating depressive symptoms during the high-risk relapse period'