Dr. Panos Zanos was recently invited to present at the Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH) in Crete, where he shared insights into the Zanos Lab’s pioneering work on ketamine and opioid use disorders. His presentation focused on the PROUD study, a groundbreaking clinical trial investigating the therapeutic potential of ketamine in individuals with opioid addiction—the first clinical trial of its kind ever conducted in Cyprus. This milestone represents a significant advancement in addiction medicine research on the island and reflects the lab’s commitment to addressing the opioid crisis through innovative, evidence-based interventions.

A key aspect of Dr. Zanos’s presentation centered on why ketamine represents a particularly promising therapeutic option for individuals struggling with opioid use disorder. Depression is highly prevalent among those with opioid addiction, with studies showing that the majority of individuals in treatment for opioid use disorder experience significant depressive symptoms. This comorbidity creates a devastating cycle: depression increases the risk of relapse, while continued opioid use exacerbates depressive symptoms. Traditional antidepressants often take weeks to show effects and have limited efficacy in this population, leaving a critical gap in treatment options during the vulnerable period of early abstinence.

Ketamine’s unique properties make it an ideal candidate for addressing this dual challenge. Unlike conventional antidepressants, ketamine produces rapid antidepressant effects—often within hours—which could provide immediate relief during the acute withdrawal and early abstinence phases when patients are most vulnerable to relapse. Additionally, emerging evidence suggests that ketamine may help restore neuroplasticity and disrupt maladaptive reward memories associated with drug use. The PROUD study aims to determine whether ketamine’s combined effects on both depressive symptoms and addiction-related neural circuitry can significantly reduce relapse rates and improve overall outcomes for individuals with opioid use disorder in Cyprus, potentially establishing a new standard of care for this population.