An infusion of the widely-used anesthetic ketamine could represent 'new hope' in the treatment of millions of people with alcohol problems, scientists studying the drug said.
Celia Morgan, lead of the Ketamine for reduction of Alcohol Relapse trials, said of the findings:"We've had no new treatments for alcoholism in the last fifty years. We found that controlled, low doses of ketamine combined with therapy can offer a new hope for alcoholics and save lives.
"It's really promising that effects were seen six months after a fairly short duration of treatment", she said. Experts cautioned that a larger study will need to be undertaken to better understand the potential benefits of using ketamine to treat alcoholism.
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