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Ketamine

Special K is not just for breakfast anymore!

Actually, it should not be a part of your diet in any form! Special K is one of many street names for Ketamine* (pronounced kee-ta-meen), which is a short-acting ‘dissociative’ drug, commonly used as a veterinary anesthetic. Its painkilling or hallucinogenic abilities is what attracts people to use it for pleasure. Ketamine is occasionally administered to humans, however all ketamine encountered by law enforcement has been obtained through illegal sources from veterinary clinics.

In powder form, Special K is usually swallowed or snorted or added to tobacco or marijuana and smoked, but it can also be injected intramuscularly as a liquid. It is distributed as powder much the same as cocaine.

A main characteristic of ketamine is a stupor similar to extreme drunkenness – commonly referred to as ‘being in the k-hole’. Characteristics include: increased heart rate; paralyzed feeling; slurred speech; nausea; inability to move or impaired motor function; numbness; hallucination; delirium; amnesia; or depression. An overdose of Special K can induce unconsciousness and failure of the cardiovascular system, leading to death.

The dissociation from consciousness experienced with Special K is commonly called ‘entering K-land’, which can be highly seductive, leading to a tremendous psychological dependence. Ketamine dulls receptors in the brain and produce a numbing effect, with regular use triggering a physical dependency as the receptors start to ‘miss-fire’.

Besides ecstasy (MDMA), Special K is very popular at ‘Raves’, often going hand-in-hand with GHB (gamma hydroxyl butyrate - in that both are commonly used as ‘date-rape’ drugs as they are both odorless and tasteless. Prices range from $20 to $25 per ‘hit’ or dosage, with the effects of a high lasting anywhere from an hour to 4-6 hours. It is usually 24-48 hours before the person feels completely ‘normal’ again. Chronic use can take several months to years to wear off.

Besides hallucinations, short-term effects of ketamine include memory loss, vomiting, convulsions, or even a loss in sense of time and identity. Flashbacks may even occur one year after use.

If you know or suspect someone you care about is using ketamine, encourage him/her to seek help.

Resource link for more information:

http://www.streetdrugs.org/ketamine.htm

*Other street names include Ketalar, Ketaject, Ketasetk, Super-K, ‘K’, Ket Kat, Cat Valium, Vitamin K.