Section Title
Ketamine
Body

Ketamine

Also known as: Special K, K, ket, kitkat, super k, horse trank.

Section Title
What is Ketamine?
Body

What is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a white crystalline powder that is a common party drug. It comes from a surgical anaesthetic, sedative and pain reliever used by medical practitioners and veterinarians.

Immediate effects

  • Feeling happy and relaxed
  • Feeling detached from your body (known as ‘falling into a k-hole')
  • Visual and auditory hallucinations
  • Confusion and clumsiness
  • Increased heart rate and blood pressure
  • Slurred speech and blurred vision
  • Anxiety, panic and violence
  • Vomiting
  • Lowered sensitivity to pain
  • Disorientation

Long-term effects

  • Dependence
  • Poor sense of smell (when snorting)
  • Mood and personality changes
  • Depression
  • Poor memory, thinking and concentration
  • Abnormal liver or kidney function
  • Ketamine bladder syndrome
  • Abdominal pain
  • Kidney problems

How to reduce harm

  • Avoid using alone or use with a person who will remain sober
  • Make sure crystals have been crushed into a fine powder to avoid cutting your nostril
  • Start with small doses until you know how it will affect you
Section Title
How it works with other drugs
Body

How it works with other drugs

When used with depressant or opioid drugs, the combined effects may result in the heart or lungs slowing or stopping as it will slow down the body’s central nervous system. At higher doses, ketamine can depress consciousness and breathing and lead to a slower functioning of the heart and/or lungs. Consequently, there’s a risk of cardiac arrest, sudden cardiac death or respiratory failure, which can also result in death.

Conversely, combining ketamine with stimulant drugs puts an enormous strain on the body. This can lead to an increased heart rate, which can cause heart failure or stroke.

Physical risks

Ketamine bladder syndrome is a condition that requires ongoing treatment. Symptoms include difficulty holding urine and incontinence, which can cause ulcers in the bladder.

Legal risks

Outside of a medically controlled setting, using, storing, distributing and selling ketamine is illegal in all states of Australia. If you are found in possession of ketamine, you could be arrested or charged with a criminal offence.

Section Title
Treatment and support services
Body

Treatment and support services 

Counselling Online offers free, confidential 24/7 access to trained counsellors who can help you work through your goals and identify services to support you in your area. Have a chat to one of our counsellors if you’re not sure where you’d like to get started. 

For further assistance, check out these services:

If you’re looking for more information about other illicit or prescription drugs, visit the Australian Drug Foundation’s Drug Facts, a comprehensive and straight-forward guide.

Section Title
What can I do next?
Body

What can I do next?

  • Take a self-assessment to help you decide if you should consider seeking help.
  • Get support from others who have been where you are now, in our community forums.
  • Try out some of our tips for making a change — they're simple and suitable no matter your stage in your journey.