Associated names
'K'. Special 'K'. Vitamin 'K', Kit Kat, Super K

 

Appearance
In pharmaceutical form Ketamine appears as a clear liquid for injection. On the street it is more commonly sold as a fine white crystalline powder. Ketamine can also be contained in pills sold as Ecstasy.

 

Legal status
From 1st January 2006 Ketamine becomes a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

 

Methods of use
Most commonly Ketamine is snorted, but it can also be swallowed and injected intramuscularly or intravenously.

 

Effects
Ketamine users report varying degrees of disorientation and disassociation from their physical selves. Low doses can bring on a sense of euphoria and mild hallucinations, together with a sense of numbness and a lack of co-ordination. At higher doses users report losing touch with reality. Nausea, headaches, loss of bowel control and even temporary sensations of paralysis are not uncommon.

The effects of oral use last longer than if the drug is snorted. Effects should not however, last for more than three hours.

 

Health implications
Because Ketamine is an anaesthetic, physical damage may be incurred without the user realising until the effects have worn off. The risks on a user’s mental health are also extremely marked.

It has been said that a hot, loud club is probably the worst place to take the drug because it is so disorientating. Alcohol and other depressants taken in conjunction with Ketamine increase the risk of heart failure, unconsciousness, vomiting and choking.