Ketamine, a medical anesthetic, is increasingly being diverted from its original use and used as a hallucinogen, including among young people. How can we counter this alarming trend?
Tl;dr
- Ketamine, an anesthetic drug, is increasingly used as a hallucinogen.
- France monitors the misuse of ketamine through addictovigilance.
- The use of ketamine causes serious complications, particularly urinary ones.
A worrying misuse of ketamine
Since its marketing in 1970 in France, the ketamine has always been known for its anesthetic properties. However, its use has deviated from its initial medical purpose to become a recreational hallucinogen, particularly among young people.
A derivative of anesthesia towards recreational use
The diversion of ketamine began in the United States and then in Europe. In France, this phenomenon began to gain momentum at the end of the 90s, mainly at techno parties.
Ketamine is also used recreationally in Asia, notably in Taiwan and Hong Kong, where its use has surpassed that of all other psychoactive substances except heroin.
A medication under surveillance
In France, ketamine is the subject of addictovigilance reportsmaking it possible to detect and characterize new usage practices as well as their consequences on health.
This has made it possible to note a constant increase in the number of regular users of ketamine, with a notable increase in disorders linked to the use of this substance.
Severe complications
Consumption of ketamine can lead to complications gravesparticularly severe urinary complications, in regular consumers. These complications may require surgical interventions and, in some cases, can be disabling. It is therefore crucial to stop consumption as soon as the first symptoms appear.
The profile of ketamine users is varied, ranging from recreational users to those who use it for “self-therapeutic” or sexual purposes, particularly in the context of chemsex. A minority of young people have also experimented with ketamine.
The circulation of ketamine is increasing, with nearly 3,000 seizures in Europe in 2022, for a total of nearly 2.79 tonnes. This situation explains the increase in exposure in the general population and the increase in health complications linked to ketamine.
