Scientists studying the drug say it could represent a new hope in the treatment of millions of people with alcohol problems.
The findings of the study were published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
The risk of relapse in the group that received ketamine plus-therapy at six months was more than three times less than in the group that received placebo plus alcohol cessation education, according to a press release.
"We have had no new treatments for alcoholism in the last fifty years," said Morgan, lead of the Ketamine for reduction of Alcohol Relapse trials. We found that a combination of low doses of ketamine and therapy can offer a new hope for alcoholics.
People who use ketamine for pain relief and sleep during surgery. Since 1985, it has been labeled an essential medicine by the World Health Organization.
It has the potential to treat mental health conditions characterized by rigid behavior, such as addiction, because of the effects of ketamine.
Morgan told Insider that the approach was a radical shift from normal addiction treatment services, particularly using a drug as a catalyst for psychological therapy.
Morgan said that participants got three infusions over three weeks with a final therapy or education session on the fourth week.
She said that the effects were seen six months after treatment had ended.
She said that the team was preparing for it to be released as a treatment in countries like the US, and that they hoped it would be available in the UK within three to five years.
Morgan warned that the treatment wouldn't work for everyone and that some may need "top up" sessions.
She said that it's not likely to be a "once and done" treatment for everyone. Booster sessions will need to be explored further in the future.
There is a need for a larger study to better understand the benefits of using ketamine to treat alcoholism.
Allan Young, director of the center for affective disorders at King's College London, who was not involved in the study, told Insider that there was a need for new treatments for alcohol use disorder.
He said that the findings show that this approach might be beneficial.
He said that we need to find out if the effects last beyond six months in order to show that a drug is safe.
There's no reason for you to be taking ketamine as a treatment for your alcohol addiction. It is possible that this could lead to a form of medical treatment in the future.
Morgan told Insider that the team will start a final trial this year.
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