This week’s Psychedelic Titan is Kimberly Juroviesky, President of Ketamine Taskforce INC. The Ketamine Taskforce is working to try to ensure insurances will cover these important medications. Currently, most insurances will not cover these treatments and declare them experimental. The Taskforce is working hard to change that.
What’s this article series about? Psychedelic Titans is a get-to-know-you-style blog series interviewing some of the psychedelic industry’s most influential and impactful individuals.
When did you first become involved in the psychedelic industry and why?
In 2009, I developed CRPS after an injury while in the USAF. In 2011 I became aware that Ketamine was being used to treat Complex Regional Pain Syndrome I began to read everything I could get my hands on about Ketamine and its use for treating CRPS. I learned that Ketamine is currently the only known medication that can slow or stop the spread of CRPS throughout the body and it is the best medication for reducing the pain it causes.
Do you, or have you taken, psychedelic substances?
I applied to be a part of a research study for Ketamine for CRPS and was accepted into the study and treated with Ketamine at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhatten in 2015. It changed my life. I have continued to get infusions since then. I get infusions about every 12 weeks. It has so far slowed the spread of my CRPS and helps reduce my pain to liveable levels so I don’t need to take any other pain medications. It has also helped my PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression as well.
What’s your favourite psychedelic compound?
Ketamine. It’s the only one I have ever tried.
Do your parents/family members know what you’re doing?
Yes, and my parents were not supportive at all in the beginning. When they saw what a big difference it makes in my pain and mental health though they changed their mind and became more accepting. It still makes them a little bit nervous but now they tell all their friends about how much it has helped me.
Have you had an experience with mental health/chronic pain?
Yes, both. I have severe chronic pain from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. I also have Fibromyalgia. I also suffer from Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD.
What’s your vision of the industry in 20 years?
My vision is that most medical offices who treat pain or mental health will offer these medications as alternatives to traditional medications and that they will also offer sessions to integrate the experience and as well as ways to utilize the neuro plasticity that occurs in the brain after these experiences.
My vision is also that insurance companies will realize that these treatments save them money in the long run and will be happy to pay for them.
What are your biggest worries for the industry?
My biggest worry is that insurance will not wake up and decide to pay so that everyone has access to these important treatments. Every day we lose people to suicide who might possibly be saved if everyone had access to these treatments.
My other worry is that bad players on the scene will ruin it for good ones. Right now there are Ketamine clinics popping up everywhere and not all of them are safe or doing proper protocols. We need to figure out standards of practice to make sure these treatments are done safely.
Who are your heroes?
Dr. Linda Hodges is one of my biggest heroes. She had one of the first free-standing Ketamine clinics in Iowa. She has been my mentor in this space. She encouraged me to write my book, Ketamine Infusions: A Patient’s Guide. She is always there with an ear to listen and help me with any research that I can’t find.
My other heroes are my fellow members of the Ketamine Taskforce who have put their heart and soul into volunteering to help bring access to care to all of those who need it.
Finally, my Heroes are all the providers in this space doing this groundbreaking work and all the patients who have gone first and are the guinea pigs for the rest of us!!!
If you could create a psychedelic to do anything you wanted, what would it do?
It would bring lasting love and happiness to us all!!!!
We’d like to thank Kimberly for being a part of the Psychedelic Titans series. Stay tuned for more profiles on leaders in the psychedelic industry.
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