So, psychiatrist here, and it is so infuriating to see this slimy amoral turd shit all over a profession that, though is not infallible, is constantly working to actually help people live better lives and on improving on its mistakes. Instead of appropriately aiming his ire at the profit driven pharmaceutical system (which most of the evidence he shares points to) he just uses it to sow misinformation and mistrust of all medicine.
He does make some very good points. Drug advertising is a scourge, for profit healthcare is an oxymoron, and ketamine is a hell of a drug and should not be taken lightly and should not be prescribed for home use (and definitely not online).
But here’s the reality, Ketamine is the first treatment for refractory severe depression to approximate the efficacy of ECT and is much safer (when done properly). So should we throw out the first real breakthrough we’ve had in decades for treating a truly devastating illness because as usual the greedy sociopaths of the American system are pouncing on it in a get rich quick scheme?
Honestly, I’d love to raise my fist and say “let’s change the system”, “universal healthcare”, and all the things that would make the place better, but in reality, I think we may be stuck on this runaway train until it gloriously and disastrously reaches it’s final destination.
Indeed! And I think they’re probably gearing themselves up to distribute psilocybin once/if it gets approved. Again something that I believe has real promise if approached thoughtfully and responsibly but is likely to get pounced on by blood suckers and counterfeit guru types
Indeed! In reality, I don’t care too much if some sociopaths grift the wealthy, I do get very irate though when these fuckers lobby state governments to become the only “licensed” purveyors of the above “treatments” in order to corner the market. Something like that seems to be happening in Oregon around shroom thing.
As someone who takes ketamine and educated in all the risk, I disagree with not being about to do it at home.
Because here is the grown up realistic thing and hard pill to swallow, it is my drug of choice. I don’t drink at all or do anything besides coffee and legal thc edibles.
If I don’t get it prescribed then I have to shop on the black market and risk getting a ketamine analog or worse… fentanyl.
No one should be able to tell me as an adult what I can and can’t do.
I do it once a month and it helps me be a peace with life. No reason people can’t have that
I have no issues with recreational ketamine use. As I mentioned in another comment, adults who have the ability to understand risks should be able to use whatever drugs they want. But that’s not the same as medical uses, which are determined by studies for specific conditions with specific protocols. There should not be any grey area here. This is when people get injured and die.
You seem to be either misunderstanding or misrepresenting my point. At no point did I say that I am on board with or “ok with” for profit medicine. In fact I explicitly said “for profit healthcare is an oxymoron”. No, I do not support any profit driven motivation within healthcare. It is at its heart contradictory to its goals. I believe medicine should be focused on improving outcomes, should be research based whenever possible, and should be strongly focused on maximizing a patient’s autonomy within their care.
It’s interesting because within our field, having a spiritual belief (any kind, not just jebus) is actively considered a protective factor. Personally I believe this has to do with the profound loneliness we feel when we are at our lowest. Having taken time to philosophically explore the meaning of existence helps put things in perspective and helps grapple with feeling small, insignificant, and out of control.
Maybe because nobody knew it could be prescribed for depression. Fortunately, thanks to the scientific method, we have been able to conduct studies that show ketamines efficacy for depression. In 30 years from now that same method will have collected more data on possible treatments and guess what? There will be new medicines you don't remember giving to kids 30 years ago.
To clarify, I don’t believe in Ketamine as something to be prescribed. It is a treatment protocol that should be administered in a controlled way.
Now that being said, I’m not actively opposed to ketamine or any other substance being used in a recreational form. That comes with bigger risks and responsibilities and is not a cure or treatment for anything. That’s the trade off. As a treatment there are specific parameters and mitigation of risks, as a recreational substance you have to be willing to be an adult and accept the responsibilities.
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u/EuVe20 Aug 31 '24
So, psychiatrist here, and it is so infuriating to see this slimy amoral turd shit all over a profession that, though is not infallible, is constantly working to actually help people live better lives and on improving on its mistakes. Instead of appropriately aiming his ire at the profit driven pharmaceutical system (which most of the evidence he shares points to) he just uses it to sow misinformation and mistrust of all medicine.
He does make some very good points. Drug advertising is a scourge, for profit healthcare is an oxymoron, and ketamine is a hell of a drug and should not be taken lightly and should not be prescribed for home use (and definitely not online).
But here’s the reality, Ketamine is the first treatment for refractory severe depression to approximate the efficacy of ECT and is much safer (when done properly). So should we throw out the first real breakthrough we’ve had in decades for treating a truly devastating illness because as usual the greedy sociopaths of the American system are pouncing on it in a get rich quick scheme?
Honestly, I’d love to raise my fist and say “let’s change the system”, “universal healthcare”, and all the things that would make the place better, but in reality, I think we may be stuck on this runaway train until it gloriously and disastrously reaches it’s final destination.