A single infusion of ketamine, combined with mindfulness-based relapse prevention, helped adults dependent on cocaine stay abstinent longer and reduce cravings. In a trial with 55 participants, 48.2% of those receiving ketamine maintained abstinence over the final two weeks, compared to 10.7% in the control group receiving midazolam. The ketamine group was 53% less likely to relapse or drop out, and their craving scores were 58.1% lower throughout the study. The infusions were well tolerated with no serious adverse events. The authors suggest these results are promising but need replication in a larger sample.
Methamphetamine and MDMA, despite chemical similarities, produce both overlapping and distinct effects in the same individuals. In a residential study with 11 adult volunteers, both drugs acutely increased cardiovascular measures and positive subjective effects while decreasing food intake. Participants had difficulty distinguishing between the drugs. Methamphetamine improved cognitive performance and disrupted sleep, whereas MDMA increased negative subjective-effect ratings. Few residual effects were noted for either drug. These differences may help explain the drugs' differing public perception and abuse potential, though recreational route of administration could also account for many attributed effects.