Ketamine, << KEET uh meen, >> is a powerful anesthetic that is misused as a recreational drug. An anesthetic is a substance that produces a loss of sensation, particularly pain. Physicians and veterinarians often administer ketamine in performing surgery on human beings and animals. American pharmacists first developed ketamine in 1962 as a short-acting anesthetic—that is, one that wears off relatively quickly. Since then, scientists have found the drug can also assist in the treatment of some mental illnesses. Ketamine is misused as a club drug, a type of laboratory drug typically taken at nightclubs, dance parties, and other social gatherings. It is sold illegally under several nicknames, including “Special K,” “Vitamin K,” “Super acid,” and “Purple.”
Ketamine has an intense effect on consciousness and pain control. As an anesthetic, it produces unconsciousness and a loss of sensation. Unlike other anesthetics, ketamine does not substantially lower blood pressure or depress breathing, and it continues to reduce pain after a surgery. Medical researchers have also investigated the use of ketamine in treating chronic pain, pain that lasts for more than a few months.
Researchers have discovered that ketamine produces rapid relief from the symptoms of certain mood disorders, such as depression, in some patients. Ketamine also may be useful for scientists who study the causes of—and develop treatments for—mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, alcoholism, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Used recreationally, ketamine sometimes takes the form of a clear liquid that is added to drinks, a powder that is snorted, or a tablet that is swallowed. At low doses, it causes dreamlike hallucinations. At higher doses, the effects can vary widely among individuals. Ketamine can cause temporary psychosis (loss of the ability to distinguish the real from the unreal), including paranoid beliefs and extremely disorganized thoughts. It may also cause loss of memory or coordination, delirium (a state of confusion), and sometimes deadly breathing problems. The United States and many other countries prohibit the use of ketamine except by licensed physicians and medical researchers.
See also Drug misuse (Club drugs).
