Ketamine is a powerful hallucinogen. It is used in human and veterinary medicine and was developed in 1962 by Parke-Davis, now a part of Pfizer. Ketamine induces a dissociative anesthesia. It is used more commonly with animals.
Its effects in humans include analgesia (pain killer), anesthesia (reversible lack of awareness), hallucinations (a perception in the absence of a stimulus), elevated blood pressure, and bronchodilation (opening of the bronchi to facilitate airflow). When ketamine is used as a general anesthesia, it is usually combined with some sedative drug. Ketamine is a core medicine in the World Health Organization’s Essential Drugs List, which is a list of minimum medical needs for a basic health care system.
Then, there is the illegal use of this drug. Recreational use increased through the end of the century, especially at rave parties. Because of the increase in illicit use the US has it classified as a Controlled Substance, while Canada has it classified as a Schedule I narcotic and the UK labeled it a Class C drug. Legally, it can only be used by health professionals, for university research purposes or with a doctor’s prescription.
Street names for this drug are mean green, rockmesc, K, Ket, Special K and Vitamin K. Ketamine is usually sold in powder form and inhaled. In its liquid state it can be inhaled, injected or mixed in a drink. It is possible to smoke the drug in a pipe or joint but the effects of the high are quicker when inhaled, ingested or injected into a muscle. Heavy users inject the drug into their leg, bypassing the liver, which would alter its effects. Injection is also the most dangerous.
Chronic users may suffer cognitive impairments including memory problems. Urinary tract diseases that can lead to kidney problems have been linked to Ketamine use. Severe side effects might include allergic reactions, tightness in the chest, swelling of the mouth, face lips or tongue, difficulty talking, irregular heart beat, muscle tightness, injection site trauma, and slowed breathing.
Ketamine addiction is most generally psychological, because of its ability to produce intense vivid psychedelic effects and out of body experiences. You can break the cycle of abuse and A Better Tomorrow can help you achieve it.
If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow today. We are here to help.
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I wonder what kind of reaction it causes in animals. Can they hallucinate?
ReplyDeleteI just heard a conversation at work this morning about Special K. I was thinking cereal, but now that I look back, the conversation didn't sound like cereal. I have led a sheltered life where drugs are concerned. I know very little.
ReplyDeleteThat's some serious stuff when you have to bypass your own liver. I feel blessed that I never got involved in drugs and I find it hard to understand why so many do.
ReplyDeleteMy memory is bad enough without making it worse. Do people who use drugs know what they might be doing to their bodies or are they oblivious?
ReplyDeleteMy husband was a medic in the Viet Nam war. This is one of the drugs they used especially in the field.
ReplyDeleteKidney disease is a pretty major thing. Why anyone would take a chance, no matter how small, and lose one of both of them is beyond me.
ReplyDeleteWas there good intent, ever, with the Rave parties and clubs, or did they come about to cover the use of drugs?
ReplyDeleteI tried Ketamine once in college and I'll tell you this, I never used it again. It was a bad trip to be sure.
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