Ketamine’s Twofold Impact Helps People Reclaim Control From Chronic Pain And Substance Misuse

The substance misuse epidemic impacts families, communities, and health systems. Individuals with chronic pain can become trapped in a cycle affecting sleep, operate, mood, and family life, sometimes leading to reliance on opioids or other substances. Latest research on ketamine-based pain treatment offers a potentially more effective approach for those with both chronic pain and substance misuse.

A peer-reviewed clinical study published in the SVOA Medical Research journal, led by Dr. Olumuyiwa Bamgbade and the Salem Anaesthesia Pain Clinic, followed 20 adults experiencing chronic pain and substance misuse. Dr. Bamgbade and his team found that ketamine treatment, as part of a comprehensive pain care plan, led to improvements in pain, mood, and substance dependence. Patients reported not only reduced pain but likewise improved emotional well-being and greater control over substance use.

Value-Based Care and Integrated Treatment

This research supports a value-based care model, which prioritizes patient outcomes over the volume of services provided. The study suggests that a single treatment approach improving pain, mood, and dependence simultaneously could reduce emergency visits, overdose risk, hospitalizations, and family stress, potentially enabling individuals to return to work and improve their quality of life.

The research also emphasizes the need for integrated treatment services for pain and substance misuse. Currently, these services are often fragmented, with patients seeing different clinics for pain, mental health, and substance misuse. An integrated approach treats the whole person, addressing all aspects of their condition.

The Importance of Teamwork

Effective integrated care requires a collaborative team approach. Physicians assess pain, medical risks, and treatment options. Pharmacists review medications, identify potential drug interactions, and support safer prescribing practices. Counsellors address trauma, stress, anxiety, depression, and behavior change. Nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, and family members also play crucial roles. Public health leaders, policymakers, and insurers are essential for providing the necessary support and funding.

Dr. Olumuyiwa Bamgbade: A Leader in Value-Based Healthcare

Dr. Olumuyiwa Bamgbade is a specialist physician trained in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the United States, and South Korea. He is an adjunct professor at institutions across Africa, Europe, and North America, and has collaborated with researchers in 22 nations. He has published 45 scientific papers in PubMed-indexed journals and is the director of Salem Pain Clinic, a specialist and research clinic in Surrey, BC, Canada. The clinic focuses on pain management, health equity, injury rehabilitation, neuropathy, insomnia, societal safety, substance misuse, and perioperative care.

Dr. Bamgbade was fully acquitted in August 2025 of allegations made against him, with the B.C. Courts finding no evidence to support the claims.

Reference

Bamgbade OA, Asaolu OO, Bamgbade DO, Lawal OO, Butelezi GP, Bada BE, Chorna O, Chansa M, Oyewole OO, Omonua SE, Irakoze A, Savage KJ, Kessi M, Atcham-Amougou LM. Ketamine Therapy for Chronic Pain Provides Added Benefits for Substance Misuse Therapy. SVOA Medical Research 2026, 4:2, 32-38.

Contact:
Olumuyiwa Bamgbade
Salem Anaesthesia Pain Clinic
salem.painclinic@gmail.com
778-628-6600