What Is Ketamine Substance Abuse?

Ketamine, also referred to as 'vitamin K', 'special K', or simply 'K', is a type of drug that is a dissociative anesthetic. It has hallucinogenic qualities and can make a person feel disconnected from their body or the real world. In the medical world the drug is used for anesthesia purposes.

Ketamine is often thought of as a party drug and is popular with teens and college age adults for its ability to induce hallucinations and distance a person from their body. From a party goers perspective this allows them to party harder for a longer period of time. Most commonly the drug is either going to be snorted or smoked.

A "K Trip," as users of the drug will refer to the high they feel from it, will list anywhere from 30 - 60 minutes in length. However, it is not uncommon for a person to experience flashbacks of their hallucinations for a couple of weeks after the high has faded. This drug can cause cognitive damage to the brain. Reports of depression, amnesia, and agitation are not uncommon.

'Vitamin' Overdose can Kill

There are some very real dangers associated with the use of this drug. First of all there is always the possibility that a user will lose consciousness  or complete control of their body. Second, use of ketamine causes an increase in blood pressure and the users heart rate. Whenever a drug impacts the heart, there is a very real possibility of heart failure. Beyond this the potential long lasting psychological impact of this drug cannot be known.

Because ketamine is widely used in the medical field, it is relatively easier to get than other drugs. This does not mean that it is any safer than a run of the mill street narcotic. Abuse of this drug can lead to death.