Ketamine

Overview

Ketamine, also referred to as K, Special K, Vitamin K, green, and jet, is a hallucinogen and dissociative drug. Ketamine can be snorted, swallowed, or injected (DrugFree.org, 2013). Some  short-term effects include dream-like states and hallucinations, sensations of being separated from the body, and terrifying feelings including near-death experiences (“bad trips” and “K-holes”). Low doses of Ketamine can cause impaired attention, learning ability, and memory and high doses can result in delirium, amnesia, impaired motor function, high blood pressure, depression, and potentially fatal respiratory problems (DrugFree.org, 2013). Ketamine effects resemble the state of mind of schizophrenic psychosis (World Health Organization, 2012). These effects also resemble those of PCP, but the effects last for a much shorter duration. Because Ketamine is odorless and tasteless, the drug is sometimes used as a “drug rape.” (DrugFree.org, 2013).

History

Ketamine was created by Doctor Calvin Stevens in 1962 as a replacement for anesthetic phencyclidine (PCP or “angel dust”) because of the unpredictable and violent effect it had on patients (TheSite.org, 2010). Ketamine became popular as an anesthetic drug in the medical field because “of its ability to bring on sleep, relieve pain, and produce short-term memory loss in surgical patients” (eNotes, n.d., pg 1). Doctors felt that the drug would also make patients feel more relaxed and comfortable when awaking from surgery. In the 1970s, physicians began to use this drug on patients. It was also used on the battlefield by the military as an anesthetic. This increased use of Ketamine lead to the spread of knowledge of the drug’s effects. Ketamine has also used by veterinarians during surgical procedures on animals.(eNotes, n.d.)

Although using hallucinogenic drugs began to become popular in the 1970s, Ketamine did not become popular until the late 1980s and early 1990s. This drug slowly emerged as a club drug, which was used at raves. Ketamine continued to gain in popularity among young people through the middle and late 1990s (eNotes, n.d.).

Today, Ketamine is illegal and cannot be legally sold or bought without a prescription in the United States. The DEA added Ketamine to the list of Substance III drugs on August 12, 1999. According to the Controlled Substances Act, Substance III drugs can be used for medical use (eNotes, n.d.). A current study from Monitoring the Future Study “reports the annual prevalence in school students as 0.8%, 1.2%, and 1.7% for 8^th, 10^th, and 12^th grade (World Health Organization, 2012, pg 4).  

Addiction and Treatment

Although Ketamine abuse does not often lead to a physical addiction, as with alcohol or heroine, individuals who abuse this drug can become psychologically addicted to the substance and the effects that it produces. Thus, when these individuals cease the use of Ketamine, they may experience cognitive and psychological symptoms, which make it very difficult for them to stop using the drug. Treatment for Ketamine abuse and addiction can depend on the age and gender of the patient, the amount of time drug abuse occurred and the severity of the problem. It can also depend on if there are any co-occurring disorders (CRC Health Group, 2011).

Treatment options for Ketamine abuse include outpatient, residential, or partial hospitalization. There are numerous therapies and techniques that can be used to treat Ketamine abuse, such as individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, 12-Step education, relapse-prevention instruction, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, biofeedback and neurofeedback, medication management, anger management, hypnotherapy, and recreation therapy (CRC Health Group, 2011).

My Thoughts

I think the fact that Ketamine is not very well known by many people and that it is not as widely available as other drugs is related to the fact that the drug is not used as often and is not as popular among young people. The abuse and dependence of Ketamine is very dangerous for individuals because the effects are not always known. The fact that these effects are not widely known is not only dangerous to users, but is also dangerous to individuals who may have been “slipped” the drug. Others may not recognize these effects and may not realize the dangers that it presents. The abuse and dependence on Ketamine can affect individuals and families immensely. Even though it is not necessarily a physical dependence, individuals can still have much difficulty stopping use, which can negatively affect their physical health, along with their social relationships and their ability to participate in society, such as maintaining a stable job and having the basic essentials. It is important to recognize this drug as psychologically addictive and help individuals who are dependent on the substance to receive the treatment needed, which is part of society’s responsibility.

References

CRC Health Group. (2011). Treatment for ketamine addiction. Retrieved from http://www.crchealth.com/addiction/ketamine-addiction-treatment/

DrugFree.org. (2013). Ketamine. Retrieved from http://www.drugfree.org/drug-guide/ketamine

eNotes. (n.d.). Ketamine. Retrieved from http://www.enotes.com/ketamine-reference/ketamine

TheSite.org. (2010). Ketamine: The story. Retrieved from http://www.thesite.org/drinkanddrugs/drugculture/wheredrugscomefrom/ketamine

World Health Organization. (2012). Ketamine: Expert peer review on critical review report (2). Retrieved from http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/quality_safety/4.2.1ExpertreviewKetaminecriticalreview.pdf

Image from google images.