Is ketamine an antidepressant, wellness trend or dangerous drug?

Although Perry reportedly had been undergoing ketamine treatment under the care of a doctor, the levels of drug detected in his blood couldn’t have come from that supervised use, says the writer. — TNS

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?

It’s a question that needs more attention from regulators and researchers – particularly with an increasingly sprawling network of ketamine clinics in the United States. There have also been rising reports of recreational use, including by Silicon Valley CEOs. Elon Musk, for instance, reportedly uses it both to manage his depression and as a party drug.