You may not have heard of the ketamine before, but you may have even been administered the drug. Ketamine is commonly used as an anaesthetic in medical procedures, a treatment for depression and for pain management. Your pet may even have used ketamine, as it’s commonly used by vets.
While ketamine is widely used in medicine and veterinary care, it is increasingly being misused as a recreational drug. As a dissociative substance, ketamine creates a sense of detachment from the body and surroundings, often accompanied by hallucinations and altered perceptions. Its effects are similar to psychedelics, influencing thoughts, emotions and consciousness.
Recent data reveals ketamine use in Australia has reached unprecedented levels. With its growing popularity, it’s crucial to understand the risks associated with misuse and how to stay informed, especially during the festive party season when substance use often increases.
More information about ketamine
Ketamine is a relatively new drug. Developed in the 1960s, as highlighted above it’s widely used in medicine and veterinary care.
Recreationally, ketamine—known as K, special K or vitamin K—is often snorted as a white powder, causing stimulant and hallucinogenic effects. High doses can lead to a “K-hole,” a dissociative, dream-like state.
As we’ve seen, ketamine use is growing and the drug is quickly becoming a popular choice in Australia’s party scene. According to an article on The Conversation website, the 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey estimated 300,000 Australians used ketamine in the past year—triple the number in 2016 and nearing the number of MDMA or ecstasy users. Recent wastewater analysis also shows ketamine levels at an all-time high across cities and regional areas.
The reasons for this rise are unclear. Ketamine’s lower cost compared to drugs like cocaine, its dissociative “party drug” appeal, and the perception of safety due to its medical use may all play a role in its growing popularity.
However, using ketamine recreationally or without a prescription is not safe. Higher doses can lead to side effects like nausea, vomiting, seizures and bladder irritation, with one study reporting urinary symptoms in 25% of recreational users.
Another issue with ketamine, as with many recreational drugs, is purity. The purity of ketamine purchased for recreational use is highly variable. Instead of ketamine, users can be ingesting substances with similar chemical structures to ketamine that produce different effects. These effects may come on slower, but often last longer.
Substances that are often mixed with ketamine include ‘pink cocaine’, recently linked to the death of One Direction singer Liam Payne, and nitazines, which are extremely strong opioid drugs.
The Conversation article has advice for people who intend to take ketamine this party season. This includes getting your ketamine checked by a drug testing service, starting low and slow, avoiding mixing drugs, using around people you feel safe with and being prepared.
Drug and alcohol education – ketamine in the workplace
Like many drugs that are designed to be used medicinally, when taken as directed ketamine is generally perfectly safe. Most people who are on ketamine can safely work and drive a vehicle. This is similar to ADHD medication.
However, when taken recreationally this is not usually the case. With unknown factors such as dosage, strength and purity at play, if you take ketamine you should allow significant time before going to work or driving.
With effects such as visual and auditory hallucinations, confusion and clumsiness, increased heart rate and blood pressure, drowsiness, slurred speech and blurred vision, anxiety, panic and vomiting, clearly ketamine has no place in workplaces or when behind the wheel.
As part of your drug and alcohol education in the workplace, it’s important to include a section on drugs that are used medicinally but can be misused recreationally. Drugs such as ketamine, medicinal cannabis, ADHD medication and sleeping tablets are prescribed regularly for people and play an important role in our lives. However, they can be dangerous when misused and mixed with driving or work.
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What is ketamine and why is its popularity growing? Read this article to further your drug and alcohol education.
