Ketamine - A Psychoactive Drug

Ketamine - A Psychoactive Drug

Ketamine hydrochloride, known on the streets as Special K, is a powerful hallucinogen widely used as an animal tranquilizer by veterinarians. It was originally created for human anaesthetic, it is still used as a general anaesthetic for children, people with very poor health, and by vets. Effects from the drug are a lot like the effects of PCP. Users call the high they get from Special K "K Hole”. K Hole is described as visual distortions and users lose track of time, sense, and identity. While in the K Hole, people usually can’t move, they just stay seated or lying down during the experience. Because of these effects, it is used as a date-rape drug. Also, many people get serious injuries and disregard them because they don’t feel anything and don’t get the normal signs of pain. The high can last from a ½ hour to 2 hours. The Drug Enforcement Administration reports that users can act high for an hour but the drug can still affect the body for up to 24 hours.

Short term effects of the drug are dream-like states of hallucinations. Users say they feel like they are floating or are separated from their body. Effects also include impaired attention, learning ability, and memory. The K Hole large amounts of Ketamine creates is a lot like a “bad trip” people get from LDS. Users say they feel drunk, stoned, and tripping all at once. Long term use causes bad mental and physical problems like delirium, amnesia, impaired motor function, high blood pressure, depression, and potentially fatal respiratory problems. It can take from 2 months to 2 years for the chronic effects of Special K to wear off. Withdrawal signs include moodiness, anxiety, sweating, and agitation. Symptoms of an overdose include loss of motor control, unconsciousness, coma and even death.

Special K as a powder is usually snorted, but it can be laced into tobacco or marijuana and smoked. The liquid for can be injected, used in drinks, or added to tobacco...

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  • Submitted by: blaine
  • Date Submitted: 04/04/2008 10:51 PM
  • Category: Psychology
  • Words: 1382
  • Pages: 6
  • Views: 39
  • Popularity Rank: 145

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