Ketamine is a powerful general anesthetic used to prevent humans and animals from experiencing pain during operations.
It began being used as a party drug in the late 2000s, with people taking it before raves for a more intense experience.
It is used as an anesthetic and has been in the national spotlight since the death of Elijah McClain of Colorado, who struggled with police and was injected by paramedics with a dose appropriate for someone weighing 200 pounds. He weighed 143 pounds. Colorado is now trying to limit the use of ketamine and other chemical restrictions by first responders.
What are the side effects?
Ketamine causes loss of sensation and paralysis of muscles.
It can also cause people to experience hallucinations and a distortion of reality, what many call entering the “k-hole.”
This is when people believe they have spoken to God or a higher power, which can lead to addiction because they crave that experience.
Ketamine can also make people feel unable to move or cause panic attacks, confusion, and memory loss.
Regular users can severely damage their bladders, which may need to be surgically removed.
Other risks include an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
Paralysis of muscles can leave people vulnerable to injury, while not feeling pain properly can cause them to underestimate any damage.
Many claim that ketamine withdrawal is worse than any other drug, and some feel so depressed that they contemplate suicide.
If you have suicidal thoughts, contact the Samaritans. here.
How is it taken and what is the law about it?
For medical use, ketamine is a liquid, but the “street” drug is typically a granular white powder.
In 1999, ketamine became a Schedule III non-narcotic substance under the Controlled Substances Act. It currently has accepted medical uses for short-term sedation and anesthesia.
In 2019, the FDA approved a version of the drug for treatment-resistant depression, which is only available in a doctor’s office or clinic.
Is illegal ketamine use common?
In May 2023, a new report found that law enforcement agencies seized more than 1,500 pounds of ketamine in 2022, about 12 times more than in 2017.
Tennessee, Florida and California had the most seizures of the drug. However, it is unclear whether those states have the greatest use.
Medical grade ketamine is usually in liquid form and is often administered intravenously.
But most of the illegally obtained ketamine was in powder form, meaning it is at risk of being contaminated with other chemicals, particularly fentanyl.
How many people die from ketamine use?
Exact data is difficult to come by: Unlike cocaine, heroin or opioids, the CDC does not publish monthly and annual death data.
The figure is low, especially when compared to drugs like fentanyl, which in 2022 killed almost 74,000 people.
Source: Talk to Frank, US Drug Enforcement Administration
