Patients with severe depression in the state of Colorado who haven’t been successful in managing their indication with antidepressants have turned to ketamine. Ketamine is a prescription drug used by veterinarians and medical practitioners as an anesthetic. Researchers at Yale have found that this drug prompts the brain to make new neural connections, allowing it to form more positive behaviors and thoughts.
A new community health program, the Mental Health Center of Denver, has been providing ketamine therapy. It is currently the only clinic in the state offering this particular therapy and is among the few in the country servicing lower-income patients.
In 2019, the FDA approved the use of esketamine in managing treatment-resistant depression. Esketamine is a version of ketamine said to be two times as potent. While there are some clinics and private practices offering the treatment, it isn’t easy for those without private insurance or those who can’t afford to pay to access the treatment. Eric Novikoff, a former computer consultant, is among patients undergoing treatment at the new community center. Novikoff revealed that after his first session, he felt his depression lifting and the urge to commit suicide reduced.
The community health center began offering treatment using esketamine in late 2020, starting with two patients, both of whom were men. The two patients had the treatment administered two times a week for a two-month period, after which the clinic opened its doors up to more patients.
Currently, the center provides regular treatments to 15 patients and has many others on a wait list. Nurses running the clinic hope that the program will expand and are excited to see patients who have suffered for years finding some relief.
The treatment procedure involves patients coming in for their once-a-week or twice-a-week dose of esketamine. This treatment is delivered as a nasal spray, and patients are directed to rooms with comfortable chairs and partitions for their sessions. Some rooms overlook homes and lawns while others overlook the parking lot. Patients who would prefer darkness and no windows also have the option of such rooms.
The success of this clinic comes as policymakers in the state consider the use of ketamine outside a clinical setting, after the death of Elijah McClain. McClain was killed in 2019 after being injected with the tranquilizing medication by Aurora police. This also comes as some legislators in the state call for mushrooms to be legalized across the state. In 2019, Denver voted to decriminalize hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Other psychedelic substances such as psilocybin are also being studied by companies such as Cybin Inc. (NYSE American: CYBN) (NEO: CYBN) in order to commercialize more effective treatments for the mental health conditions ravaging the world in the wake of the pandemic.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Cybin Inc. (NEO: CYBN) (NYSE American: CYBN) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/CYBN
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