Ketamine Information
What Is Ketamine?
Ketamine, or ketamine hydrochloride, is a non-barbiturate,
rapid-acting disassociative anesthetic used on both animals and humans;
it also has been used in human medicine for pediatric burn cases and
dentistry, and in experimental psychotherapy. It is being abused by an
increasing number of young people as a "club drug," and is
often distributed at "raves" and parties.
What Are Some of Ketamine's Street Names?
Some street names for ketamine are: K, Ket, Special K, Vitamin K, Vit
K, Kit Kat, Keller, Kelly's day, Green, Blind squid, Cat valium, Purple,
Special la coke, Super acid, and Super C. Slang for experiences related
to ketamine or effects of ketamine include, "k-hole,"
"K-land," "baby food," and "God."
How Is Ketamine Being Abused?
Ketamine is a liquid and the most potent ways of using it are by
injecting it intramuscularly or intravenously. There is the risk of
losing motor control before injection is completed. Ketamine also can be
made into a tablet, or a powder by evaporating the liquid and reducing
it to a fine white powder that can be smoked or snorted. Because of its
appearance, Ketamine is often mistaken for cocaine or crystal
methamphetamine. Some reports indicate it is sometimes sold as MDMA
(Ecstasy) and mixed with other drugs such as ephedrine and caffeine.
"Cafeteria use" -- the use of a number of hallucinogenic and
sedative/hypnotic club drugs such as MDMA, GHB, LSD, and illegally used
prescription drugs -- is reported almost everywhere in the U.S.
What Are Ketamine's Effects?
Ketamine produces a dissociative state in a user. Effects can range
from rapture to paranoia to boredom. The user feels its hallucinogenic
effects and experiences impaired perception. Ketamine commonly elicits
an out-of-body or near-death experience; it can render the user
comatose.
Ketamine is similar molecularly to phencyclidine (PCP--or "Angel
Dust") and thus creates similar effects including numbness, loss of
coordination, sense of invulnerability, muscle rigidity,
aggressive/violent behavior, slurred or blocked speech, exaggerated
sense of strength, and a blank stare. There is depression of respiratory
function but not of the central nervous system, and cardiovascular
function is maintained. Since ketamine is an anesthetic, it stops the
user from feeling pain, which could lead the user to inadvertently cause
injury to himself/herself. Ketamine may relieve tension and anxiety, is
purported to be a sexual stimulant, and intensifies colors and sounds.
The effects of a ketamine 'high' usually last an hour but they can
last for 4-6 hours, and 24-48 hours are generally required before the
user will feel completely "normal" again. Effects of chronic
use of ketamine may take from several months to two years to wear off
completely. Low doses (25-100mg) produce psychedelic effects quickly.
Large doses can produce vomiting and convulsions and may lead to oxygen
starvation to the brain and muscles; one gram can cause death.
Flashbacks may even occur one year after use. Long-term effects include
tolerance and possible physical and/or psychological dependence.
Is Ketamine Legal?
Yes, but only for medical uses. It is marketed as Ketalar, or Ketaset,
to veterinarians and medical personnel and considered a controlled
substance only in California, Connecticut, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. A
bill was introduced in Congress in the spring of 1997 to schedule
ketamine as a Schedule II drug, having a high abuse potential with
severe psychic or physical dependence liability. Cocaine and
methamphetamine are other examples of Schedule II drugs.
Is Ketamine Use Spreading?
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, ketamine is an
emerging drug in San Diego, New York, Miami, Newark (DE). Its use is
also being reported in New Jersey, D.C., Florida, and Georgia.
Source U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
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