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Club Drugs: Ketamine

The use of Ketamine, one of the more popular club drugs, is increasing among teenagers and young adults throughout the United States. Because of its anesthetic properties, Ketamine is considered to be one of the “date rape” drugs, substances that can be slipped into a person’s drink to render him or her unconscious.

The 1997 Monitoring the Future Study found that increased Ketamine use has been reported in many cities, including Miami, New York, Baltimore, New Orleans, and Detroit (NIDA, 2000). In the spring of 1997, Congress classified Ketamine as a drug with a high abuse potential and the possibility of creating severe physical or psychological dependence (NCADI, 2000).

What Is Ketamine?

Ketamine (ketamine hydrochloride) is a central nervous system depressant that produces a rapid-acting dissociative effect. It was developed in the 1970s as a medical anesthetic for both humans and animals. Ketamine is often mistaken for cocaine or crystal methamphetamine because of a similarity in appearance (NCADI, 2000).

Also known as K, Special K, Vitamin K, Kit Kat, Keller, Super Acid, and Super C, Ketamine is available in tablet, powder, and liquid form. So powerful is the drug that, when injected, there is a risk of losing motor control before the injection is completed. In powder form, the drug can be snorted or sprinkled on tobacco or marijuana and smoked (Partnership for a Drug-Free America, 2000). The effects of Ketamine last from 1 to 6 hours, and it is usually 24–48 hours before the user feels completely “normal” again.

What Are the Side Effects of Ketamine?

Psychedelic effects are produced quickly by low doses (25–100 mg) of Ketamine. Higher doses
(1 gram or more) can cause convulsions and death (NCADI, 2000). As with most anesthetics, eating or drinking before taking Ketamine can produce vomiting. Other reported side effects are:

Physical effects: slurred speech, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, lack of coordination, muscle rigidity, bronchodilation, respiratory distress, paralysis, increased cardiac output (leading to risk of heart attack or stroke), coma, and death.

Psychological effects: hallucinations, dreamlike states, feelings of invulnerability, psychological near-death experiences, paranoia, and aggressive behavior.

To obtain additional information on Ketamine and other “club drugs,” please contact the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information web site at ncadi.samhsa.gov.

Sources

Drugs, Insolvents and Intoxicants—Ketamine, http://area51.upsu.plym.ac.uk/~harl/ketamine.aspx, accessed July 2000.

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI), Ketamine: A Fact Sheet, ncadi.samhsa.gov/pubs/qdocs/ketamine/ketafact.aspx, accessed July 2000.

National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), Infofax—Club Drugs, www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/clubdrugs.aspx, accessed July 2000.

NIDA, Community Drug Alert Bulletin—Club Drugs, http://165.112.78.61/ClubAlert/Clubdrugalert.aspx, accessed July 2000.

Partnership for a Drug-Free America, Drug Information: Ketamine (Special K), www.drugfreeamerica.org/clubdrugs/ketamine.aspx, accessed July 2000.

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