We have come a long way in our efforts to treat mental health problems and reduce the stigma that exists. Providing the specific behavioral and medical treatment needed for each individual with a mental health issue is an ongoing challenge. 

This article, “N.J. doctors are using a controversial psychedelic to treat depression. Yes, it’s legal,” tells one New Jersey woman’s story about her use of ketamine to deal with her severe depression. Ketamine recently reappeared in the news as a result of a guilty plea from one of the doctors who obtained enormous amounts of the drug and gave it to actor Matthew Perry, who subsequently died of an overdose in 2023.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes that ketamine “can cause strong mood and mind effects. People may experience changes in how they perceive reality, including intense feelings of being entirely disconnected from their environment.”  Since it has addictive characteristics, the drug is classified by the Federal Drug Administration as a schedule III substance, making it illegal to possess without a prescription. More than a dozen healthcare providers in NJ are currently administering the drug.