Ketamine is a powerful anaesthetic which can stop you feeling pain and is used for operations on humans and animals and comes in a powder or liquid form. It can be injected, consumed in drinks or added to joints or cigarettes.
The effects aren’t long-lasting but Ketamine can cause a loss of feeling in the body and a paralysis of the muscles. Users report an “out of body” experience which is often referred to as a “K-Hole”. Due to the dreamlike state it puts users in, ketamine has been used as a “date rape” drug. It can cause hallucinations and a “trip” can last from half an hour to several hours.
The risks of using ketamine are:
- If you’re under the influence you could be vulnerable to others who may take advantage of you sexually
- You might feel confused, agitated or experience panic attacks which could make you vulnerable to suicidal feelings or thoughts
- People can develop depression and anxiety after using ketamine, risking their long-term health
- Ketamine can cause serious bladder problems in regular users. They can have trouble passing urine and when they do, it can be painful. In some cases the damage to the bladder is so bad it has to be removed by surgery. The urinary tract from the kidneys down to the bladder can also be affected badly.