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A Drug That Kills
Ketamine is an anesthetic that can be used on humans as well as animals. It also has been used in human medicine for pediatric burn cases, dentistry, and in experimental psychotherapy. However, that's not its only use today. Unfortunately, it is being abused by an increasing number of teens and young adults as a "club drug," and is often distributed at parties, also known as raves.
Percent of Students Surveyed That Use Ketamine:
| 8th Grade | 10th Grade | 12th Grade | |
| 2003 | 1.1% | 1.9% | 2.1% |
| 2004 | 0.9% | 1.3% | 1.9% |
K, Vitamin K, Kit Kat, Super C, Keller, Super Acid, Kelly's Dad, Green, Blind Squid, Cat Valium, Purple, and Special la Coke. However, the most common is Special K. Some slang used to describe a bad Ketamine experience are "k-hole," "K-land," "baby food," and "God."
Legal/Illegal and Consequences:
Ketamine is a legal drug. However, it is only legal for medical uses. Many veterinary and hospitals use it. Vets have reportedly been robbed for their Ketmine stock. Once Ketamine is in the hands of someone using Ketamine for personal reasons, it becomes illegal. Ketamine is scheduled as a Schedule II drug. This means that it has a high abuse potential. Most abusers of Ketamine can buy it off the streets for $20-$25 per dosage unit. The consequences for illegally using Ketamine is arrest and requirement of drug abuse therapy. Not including the physical consequences of memory loss and potential decline of efficiency of other internal organs.
Effects of Ketamine:
Some affects of Ketamine include numbness, loss of coordination, sense of freedom, muscle stiffness, aggressive/violent behavior, impaired speech, a blank stare, and exaggerated sense of strength. Ketamine is an anesthetic. An anesthetic is a drug that is a pain killer. When someone abuses or uses Ketamine, their pain goes away. This is a potential hazard because the user could be hurting himself or herself and not feeling it. Therefore, they won't be able to stop the action that normally would be hurting them. Some people may also experience hallucinations and paranoia, which is extreme anxiety. Ketamine also increases a person's blood pressure and heart rate.
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