Ketamine

Ketamine is used in medicine as an anesthetic for humans and animals.

By snorting it as a powder

Most people who take powder ketamine will snort it. Users often talk of taking a ‘bump’, meaning they snort a small amount of ketamine. In the UK, snorting is the most common way to take ketamine.

By injecting it

People who regularly use ketamine sometimes inject it to get a bigger hit. They usually inject ketamine into a muscle.

By swallowing it as a tablet

Some people swallow it in tablet form, but this is less common.

By bombing

Some people ‘bomb’ it, which is swallowing the powder wrapped in a cigarette paper.

Ketamine is a general anaesthetic so it reduces sensations in the body. Trips can last for a couple of hours.

Taking ketamine can make you feel:

• dream-like and detached
• chilled, relaxed and happy
• confused and nauseated

Ketamine can also:

• alter your perception of time and space and make you hallucinate (see or hear things that aren't there)
• stop you feeling pain, putting you at risk of hurting yourself and not realising it

If you take too much ketamine you may lose the ability to move and go into a ‘k-hole’. This feels like your mind and body have separated and you can't to do anything about it – which can be a very scary experience.

Regular ketamine use can cause:

• agitation
• panic attacks
• damage to short- and long-term memory
• depression, if taken frequently

It can make people seem slower, more relaxed and chilled out, but it can also stop people from being able to move properly and from making sense.

How long the effects last and the drug stays in your system depends on how much you’ve taken, your size and what other drugs you may have also taken.

To kick in

When snorted, ketamine normally takes about 15 minutes to take effect. When taken orally, it will take longer, around 20 minutes to an hour.

How long it lasts

The buzz can last around for 30 minutes to an hour, but the effects really depend on how much you take.

After effects

People may feel down and low in mood for a few days after using ketamine.

Ketamine can be detected in a urine test for several days after taking it.

How long a drug can be detected for depends on how much is taken and which testing kit is used. This is only a general guide.

Mixing drugs is always risky but some mixtures are more dangerous than others.

Yes. People who become addicted to ketamine will keep taking it – whether they’re aware of the health risks or not. Others will attend drug treatment services to help them stop.

People who use ketamine regularly can develop a tolerance to it, which could lead to them taking even more to get the effects they’re looking for.

There are no physical withdrawal symptoms with ketamine, so ketamine addiction is sometimes called a psychological dependence.

Like drink-driving, driving when high is dangerous and illegal. If you’re caught driving under the influence, you may receive a heavy fine, driving ban, or prison sentence.

If the police catch people supplying illegal drugs in a home, club, bar or hostel, they can potentially prosecute the landlord, club owner or any other person concerned in the management of the premises.