Ketamine
The effects, the risks, the law.
Slang:
Special K, k, ket, super k, vitamin k, green, Mr Soft and techno smack.
Background:
Ketamine is an anaesthetic with painkilling and hallucinogenic properties. It comes in tablet, liquid or powder form. The drug is intended to be used by vets as a sedative and anaesthetic.
The drug was only made illegal in January 2006. Despite that, the Independent Drug Monitoring Unit reported that in 2007 there were around 90,000 ketamine users in the UK, 50% more than in 2000.
The effects:
- Ketamine is a 'dissociative anaesthetic' with analgesic properties
- This means it numbs the body, and creates the effect of removing users from their sense of reality
- Common effects include 'out of body experiences', hallucinations and temporary paralysis
- As with LSD and other hallucinogens, the effects of taking ketamine are influenced by the user's mood and environment
The risks:
- Because ketamine numbs the body, users run the risk of serious injury without even realising they've been hurt
- A ketamine hit can be an alarming experience, even for those used to taking other drugs
- Excessive doses can cause serious breathing problems, unconsciousness or heart failure
- There is a risk of choking if the user falls unconscious
- Ketamine can be extremely dangerous when mixed with other drugs or alcohol
- The long-term effects of recreational ketamine use are not yet fully understood
- Ketamine makes some people vomit
The law:
Ketamine is currently a Class C drug.
If you are planning on taking ketamine:
- If you're out clubbing and feel sick, don't lock yourself in a toilet cubicle alone. If you lose consciousness you can choke on your vomit and no one will be there to help;
- Caution is the name of the game. Excessive doses have killed people. It's worth stressing, though, as with all drugs, there is no such thing as a safe dose, since there's no way of knowing how strong or pure the powder/liquid is, or how an individual will react to it.
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