Ketamine: The K That Kills

by SAMHSA

Ketamine is a substance that veterinarians use to medicate animals. But did you know that more and more young people have been using this drug illegally to get high? Ketamine, often referred to as Special K and also known as Vitamin K, Kit Kat, Keller, and Cat Valium, is being used as a club drug - an illegal drug that usually is associated with all-night dance parties, clubs, or raves. Special K also is used as a "date rape" drug because, when slipped into someone's drink, it can make the person pass out.

Special K first became popular as a club drug in the 1970s and 1980s, and it reappeared in the 1990s in the rave scene. The number of hospital emergency room mentions of ketamine totaled 263 in 2000, an increase from 19 mentions of ketamine in 1994. In a Monitoring the Future survey from 2001, 2.5 percent of high school seniors, 2.1 percent of 10th graders, and 1.3 percent of 8th graders reported ketamine use in the past year.

Special K comes in tablet, powder, or liquid form. It is a disassociative drug, meaning that it causes the user to lose the normal sense of connection between body and mind. For example, if a user becomes physically hurt while high, he may not realize it because communication between the mind and body has been cut off. Other effects include:

• Slurred speech
• Vomiting
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Loss of coordination
• Trouble breathing
• Paralysis

Large doses increase the risk of convulsions, brain damage, heart attack, stroke, coma, and death. If the user passes out, she could be physically or sexually assaulted.

As a parent, you should make your child aware of the dangers of illegal drug use, including use of Special K and other club drugs. Club drugs are not just used by older teenagers; children as young as eighth grade have reported use of Special K, so it's never too early to start these discussions. If your child is a bit older and seems attracted to the club scene, concerts, or all-night dance parties, make sure she knows what club drugs are and why they are dangerous. Your child may only be interested in listening to music or hanging out with friends, but drugs are a major part of club culture, and she may encounter peer pressure to use them.

What To Know

Club drugs are not just used by older teenagers; children as young as eighth grade have reported use of Special K, so it's never too early to start these discussions.

About the Author

www.samhsa.gov
SAMHSA works to improve the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, alcohol and drug addiction treatment, and mental health services. Includes links to support groups, information resources, events and articles.