Ketamine: Just the Facts

Ketamine, also known as K or Ket, is a white or beige powder that looks similar to cocaine but has very different effects.  

It is sometimes used in hospitals as an anaesthetic, but this is in specific doses under controlled conditions. This does not mean that ketamine is safe to use recreationally. Ketamine is illegal to have or sell, and it’s not possible to tell its strength or what the drug has been mixed with before you buy or use it. 

Drug dealers can mix drugs like ketamine with other dangerous substances to add weight and improve their profits. 

Taking ketamine can be fatal, especially when mixed with other drugs or alcohol. 

How is it taken?

Most ketamine users will snort the drug through their nose. Some people might refer to taking a ‘bump’ or ‘key’ – meaning they snort a small amount of the powder, for example by placing a small amount on the end of a key. 

Others might ‘bomb’ ketamine – this means they wrap some of the powder in a cigarette paper and swallow it. 

Some people might inject ketamine or take it in tablet form, but this is less common. 

How does it make you feel?

Ketamine is an anaesthetic, meaning it reduces sensations and feelings in the body. It can stop you feeling pain, putting you at risk of hurting yourself and not realising. 

People who take ketamine might feel: 

• Detached from their surroundings 
• Relaxed 
• Confused 
• Nauseous or sick 
• Unable to move properly (this is sometimes referred to as a ‘k-hole’) 

Ketamine can also alter a person’s perception of time and cause hallucinations (seeing, hearing or feeling things that aren’t there). 

How long does it last?

How long ketamine lasts depends on factors such as: 

• How strong the drug is (which is impossible to tell by looking at it) 
• How much someone has taken 
• Their size 
• What other drugs they may have taken. Remember, mixing drugs (including with alcohol) increases their risks and can be fatal. 

When snorted, it normally takes around 15 minutes to take effect. The ‘high’ can last between 30 minutes to an hour, but it may be shorter or longer depending on the factors above. 

Never take an additional dose of a drug if you’re still waiting for it to take effect.  

The risks

Ketamine can cause death, the risk is higher when mixed with other drugs or alcohol. 

It can also: 

• increase heart rate and blood pressure 
• make someone confused, agitated, delirious or panicked 
• leave people vulnerable to hurting themselves or being hurt by others 
• make users feel down or low in mood for a few days after taking it 
• lead to addiction 

Long-term use can: 

• cause serious bladder, kidney and urinary tract problems, sometimes requiring surgery or removal 
• cause abdominal pain or cramps 
• damage the liver, which is an important organ that cleans your blood and removes toxins 
• damage short-term and long-term memory 
• lead to panic attacks, depression and psychosis
• make existing mental health problems worse 
• cause problems with concentration 
• lead to people needing to take more ketamine to get the effects they are looking for, increasing the risks 

The law

Ketamine is a Class B drug, which means it’s illegal to have for yourself, give away or sell. 

Possession can get you up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both. 

Supplying someone else, even your friends, can get you up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both. 

Like drink driving, driving whilst high is dangerous and illegal. Being caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can result in a large fine, driving ban and/or prison sentence.   

Some drugs can stay at detectable levels in your system for days or weeks after you’ve taken them.  

How to get help

If you have any more questions on this area or would like to speak to somebody about this topic, have a look at the links or search for your local services in the blue box below. Alternatively you can always contact your school nursing team.

• w: Ketamine - Talk to Frank
  
• w: NHS - Drugs and drug use