Ketamine Report

Daniel Kaller
Life, Society, Drugs
11/16/2016
Ketamine
Ketamine, otherwise known as Vitamin K, is classified as a dissociative anesthetic. It is
mainly used in veterinary clinics to sedate animals (Ketamine, n.d.). It can be injected, sniffed,
put in drinks, or smoked. Short-term and long-term effects include increased heart rate and blood
pressure, nausea, vomiting, numbness, depression, amnesia, hallucinations and potentially fatal
respiratory problems. Users can begin to crave the drug, and if taken at high dosages the user
will experience what is known as the K-Hole which is an out of body, near death experience.
Because of its sedative abilities it can be used as a date rape drug. (Ketamine, n.d.)
Ketamine is a commonly used drug in veterinary clinics, used as an anesthetic to sedate
animals. Ketamine is a dissociative drug, meaning it distorts the way the user perceives time,
color, sound, and self. (NIDA) Dissociative drugs are a type of hallucinogen, often leaving the
user feeling detached from their body. When asked a user explained its effects on his walking in
the following way walking is like being drug through mud as a puppet, but controlled by your
own mind. Aside from the detachment of ones reality there are many other short term effects.
Short term effects of ketamine include; problem with attention, learning, and memory
(NIDA). Dreamlike states and hallucinations are also big parts in the short term effects, causing
the user to feel the high. Troubles communicating are also side effects because ketamine acts
as a sedative, causing the user to feel as if he is not in control of his speech. Loss of memory,

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problems moving to the point of immobility, and unconsciousness are all short term effects.
Long-term effects can be ulcers and pain in the bladder, kidney problems, stomach pain
depression, and poor memory. Aside from all these effects, there are still people that use this drug
recreationally.
Ketamine, Special K, K, and Vitamin K are all street names of the recreational drug. It is
often used as a club drug, and in some severe cases extreme addiction. It comes in a white
powder, or a liquid substance. It can be injected, snorted, or smoked in a joint. While users feel
unattached to their self, users explain that the goal in using ketamine is to go into a K-Hole. Khole is reached when you take enough ketamine that you are completely unattached from your
body and are in complete limbo between reality and a dream like state. The K-hole when
injecting ketamine can be a much more substantial detachment. Ketamine when used
recreationally can be very addictive. There are no known drugs to help with ketamine addiction.
There are also not many known symptoms of withdrawal from ketamine (NIDA).
Ketamine is a very powerful drug, and when used incorrectly can be very dangerous to
persons wellbeing. It is a very strong dissociative, hallucinogen that can leave the user feeling
completely detached from their body. It has many short term effects including loss of memory,
delusions, troubles communication, and hallucinations. Long term effects include loss of
memory, ulcers and bladder and stomach pain. Ketamine should only be used if proscribed to
you by a doctor.
The majority of Ketamine users, 75%, are between the ages of 12-25 years old. Although
when adults tend to use it, it is implemented more as a date rape drug on un-expecting victims.
An estimated 3% of High School seniors report having tried Ketamine at least once.

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Reprocousins include longterm side effects, coma, and death. It can produce effects lasting
anywhere between 45 to 90 minutes, however effects can lingure up to 24 hours after the drug
has been consumed. Ketmaine is a legal substance, however using and abusing ketamine is
illegal and extremely dangerous.
According to a small study found there may be medical benefits to the club drug called
Ketamine. Ketamine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an anesthetic
and for treating certain types of pain. (Park, 2016) Studies are starting to show that Ketamine
can be a highly effective way to lift mood. In certain amounts it can rebalance certain brain
chemicals pertaining to mood, but also triggers dopamine, which is directly related to the reward
system, making taking hits make the brain want more of the drug, leading to addiction. (Park,
2016)
Intravenous (IV) Ketamine infusions involve the release of Ketamine into the
bloodstream. It can be useful in the treatment of certain pain disorders, where other more
conventional treatments have failed. Ketamine is a NMDA receptor antagonist used for
anesthetic and sedative properties, which is also involved in pain control. In conditions where a
person develops hypersensitivity or hyperalgesia (increased pain disorder) where people may
feel pain from; touch, water, or a breeze Ketamine could block the receptors involved which
could reverse the symptoms. (CHANGEpain, 2016)
Ketamine produces hallucinations; it distorts perceptions of sight and sound making the
user feel disconnected and not in control. A Ketamine trip is said to be better than LSD or PCP
because the hallucinatory effects are relatively short in duration, lasting only 30-60 minutes
instead of hours. The onset of the effect happens rapidly, often a few second to minutes after

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taking the drug. Flashbacks come several weeks after using the drug. Also causes agitation,
depression, cognitive difficulties, unconsciousness, and amnesia.