GOOD MORNING AMERICA - NBA player and author Lamar Odom (Darkness to Light: A Memoir) is interviewed by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images News correspondent Juju Chang airing Tuesday, May 28, 2019 on Walt Disney Television via Getty Images's "Good Morning America." (Photo by Matt Petit/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) LAMAR ODOM
Lamar Odom, a celebrity former professional basketball star, struggled publicly with substance abuse problems for years. This week, a documentary about Odom's ketamine treatment, called "Lamar Odom Re/Born," premiered on YouTube.
Odom, 41, was previously married to Khloé Kardashian. In 2015, he overdosed and experienced 12 seizures and six strokes. “They told my family to say goodbye,” Odom said in the documentary, noting how close he was to dying.
Two years ago, Odom visited Dr. Steven L. Mandel, the owner of Ketamine Clinics Los Angeles “after he tried a number of other things which had not given him the relief he was seeking.”
“Lamar told me, even after his coma, he was still having trouble with addiction,” a friend on the documentary said. Since beginning treatment, Odom has credited ketamine infusion therapy as the key to helping him maintain his sobriety.
Odom takes small doses of ketamine, labeled as an anesthetic, over hour-long, medically-supervised sessions. “I feel amazing,” Odom told ABC News' Steve Osunsami.
"I don't wake up looking to do lines ... or waking up in a dark place or feeling unfulfilled," he continued. If you’re interested in seeing the full documentary, click here.
What does research say about ketamine infusion therapy?
Our team at Freedom Ketamine Treatment Centers was proud to see a celebrity of Lamar Odom’s caliber bringing attention to the revolutionary effects of ketamine infusion therapy. Researchers have said that in the mental health industry, the therapeutic benefits of the drug are the "the most important discovery in half a century."
Ketamine infusion therapy be especially helpful for patients who suffer from treatment-resistant depression, suicidal ideation, substance abuse issues, or chronic pain. This is because ketamine impacts a different area of the brain than traditional antidepressants.
This option is not only available to celebrities – ketamine clinics are popping up all over the country, as the medical community embraces its off-label uses for these conditions.
Our practice, located in the greater DC region, offers ketamine infusions to those with severe depression, PTSD, chronic pain, and other debilitating conditions. Our team of board-certified physicians will conduct a screening and review your medical history to ensure you’re a good fit for treatment, and then discuss your treatment options with you. Most patients benefit from a series of six infusions over the course of a few weeks.
At our offices, infusions are medically-supervised, and given over about 40-minutes while our patients rest and relax. We encourage all of our patients to continue on with traditional talk therapy and other treatments they may already have in place.
If you’re interested in seeing if ketamine infusion therapy is right for you, contact Freedom Ketamine Treatment Centers at 301-235-9022. We have offices in Rockville, Bethesda, Columbia, Reston, Vienna, and Marshall, and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.