Ketamine for Addiction & Substance Use

Breaking the cycle your brain built.

Depression Anxiety PTSD Chronic Pain OCD Addiction Veterans Suicidal Ideation

The Bottom Line — IV Ketamine for Addiction

IV ketamine is used as an adjunct to comprehensive addiction treatment for alcohol use disorder and substance use disorders, supporting the neuroplasticity window where new patterns can form. Not a standalone treatment — pairs best with therapy. Standard protocol at Music City Ketamine: 6 infusions over 2-3 weeks at $475 per session, administered by Marla Peterson, CRNA in Franklin, TN.

Is This You?

How Ketamine Helps Addiction

Addiction rewires the brain's reward circuitry, creating deeply ingrained patterns tied to substance-associated memories. Over time, these neural pathways become so entrenched that willpower and insight alone aren't enough to override them. The problem isn't a lack of motivation — it's neurobiology.

Ketamine disrupts drug-associated memory reconsolidation via NMDA receptor antagonism. When memories related to substance use are recalled during a ketamine session, they can be re-stored with reduced emotional and motivational charge — weakening the grip those memories have on behavior and craving.

Ketamine disrupts the reconsolidation of substance-related memories, reducing their emotional pull. It also opens a neuroplasticity window where the brain becomes more receptive to forming new behavioral patterns — supporting lasting recovery rather than temporary abstinence.

This neuroplasticity window is what makes ketamine particularly valuable in addiction treatment. Rather than simply managing withdrawal or suppressing cravings, ketamine creates a period where the brain is more capable of building new reward pathways and behavioral responses. Research has shown particular promise for alcohol and opioid use disorders, with growing evidence for cocaine dependence as well.

At Music City Ketamine in Franklin, TN, Marla Peterson, CRNA understands that addiction is not a moral failure — it's a medical condition with a neurological basis. Ketamine therapy can complement your existing recovery programs, whether that includes therapy, support groups, or medication-assisted treatment. Every infusion is administered in a private suite with real-time monitoring, in an environment built for safety and calm.

What the Research Shows

Reduced
cravings across alcohol, cocaine, and opioid use disorders in clinical trials
Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment — Systematic Review, May 2025
Longer
time to relapse and decreased urge to drink in patients receiving ketamine
CNS Spectrums — Meta-Analysis of 44 Studies, October 2024
80%+
depression remission in patients with comorbid AUD receiving ketamine
Yale RCT — Ketamine + Naltrexone for MDD/AUD, 2025

Ready to explore whether ketamine therapy is right for you?

Schedule a Consultation
Or call (615) 988-4600 · Music City Ketamine, Franklin, TN

What Our Patients Say

★★★★★
"I spent years trying to break free from alcohol. Rehab, meetings, white-knuckling it — I'd get a few months and then fall back. After ketamine combined with therapy, something shifted. The pull just... quieted. For the first time, the pattern didn't feel inevitable."
— Patient, treated for alcohol use disorder
★★★★★
"I was nervous about walking into another treatment setting. But this was different. Marla and her team made me feel understood, not judged. The space is warm and private — nothing like a clinical rehab facility. I finally felt like someone saw the person behind the problem."
— Patient, treated for substance use disorder

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive ketamine if I'm in recovery?

Ketamine therapy for addiction is administered under strict medical supervision by Marla Peterson, CRNA at Music City Ketamine in Franklin, TN. It's important to discuss your full recovery history during consultation. Ketamine is used as a medical treatment, not a recreational substance.

How does ketamine reduce cravings?

Ketamine disrupts the neural pathways associated with substance-related memories and cravings through NMDA receptor antagonism. It also opens a neuroplasticity window that supports forming new behavioral patterns.

Which addictions respond to ketamine therapy?

Clinical research shows particular promise for alcohol and opioid use disorders, with emerging evidence for cocaine and cannabis use disorders.

Marla Peterson, CRNA

Marla Peterson, CRNA

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

20+ years of anesthesia experience. Member, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). Marla personally administers and monitors every infusion at Music City Ketamine. Read her full bio →

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about IV ketamine therapy for Addiction at Music City Ketamine.

Does ketamine help with addiction?

Emerging evidence supports IV ketamine as an adjunct to comprehensive addiction treatment, particularly for alcohol use disorder. It is not a standalone treatment — works best paired with therapy, mutual support, and other addiction-recovery infrastructure.

What substances does ketamine help with?

Strongest evidence for alcohol use disorder. Emerging research on cocaine and opioid use disorders. Always used in combination with counseling and behavioral treatment, never as a sole intervention.

Can ketamine itself become addictive?

Recreational ketamine misuse exists, but clinical IV ketamine administered in a monitored setting at therapeutic dose does not produce the addiction pattern seen with recreational use. Marla Peterson, CRNA screens for risk during consultation.

How does ketamine help addiction recovery?

IV ketamine appears to support neuroplasticity that helps the brain form new patterns away from substance-driven cycles. The neuroplasticity window opens for several days post-infusion — making this an ideal time for therapy work on triggers and coping skills.

A Different Path Out

When willpower alone isn't enough, it's not because you're failing — it's because the neurological cycle needs a different kind of intervention. Ketamine therapy at Music City Ketamine in Franklin, TN may help break that cycle. Let's talk about whether it's right for you.

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Or call (615) 988-4600 · Flexible hours including evenings and weekends