KETAMINE
AKA: K, special-K, vitamin-K, super-K
- Ketamine is a very strong general
anaesthetic used
for operating on animals and humans. It has become a popular
illegal drug.
- Usually, people snort it up a straw or a rolled up bank-note,
but sometimes people sprinkle it on tobacco or cannabis and smoke
it.
Why do people take
it?
What class is it?
How does it affect the
heart?
What are the
other effects on the body?
What are illegal drugs?
Illegal drugs can damage the brain, heart, and other important
organs. Different drugs affect you in different ways and include
different risks. Here you can find out more about them.
Class A, B or C?
The British government separate the different kinds of illegal
drugs into three different categories. These classes (A, B and C)
carry different levels of penalty for possession and dealing. Drugs
classified ‘A’ have the strongest penalties, drugs classified ‘C’
have the lowest.
(These classes have nothing to do with how strong or dangerous a
drug is – some class ‘C’ drugs can kill you.)
To find out more about the fines and prison sentences you can
get for carrying drugs, go to talktofrank
KETAMINE
Why do people take it?
It makes you feel all floaty and like your body and mind aren’t
connected. It can also make you hallucinate – that when you see and
hear things that aren’t there or things appear distorted.
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What class is it?
C
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How does it affect the heart?
- Ketamine increases people’s heart rate and blood pressure.
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What are the other effects on the body?
- Because ketamine is an anaesthetic it can stop you from feeling
pain properly so you can hurt yourself without realising it.
- It can cause vomiting and fits.
- People can get a flashback weeks or months later and this can
be really frightening.
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Useful links
Talk to Frank:
www.talktofrank.com
0800 776600
24 hours a day, every day.
Textphone for people with hearing
difficulties
0800 9178765
Release:
www.release.org.uk
0845 4500 215
help and legal advice line
(open 11am-1pm for drug or legal advice. 2-4pm drugs advice
only)
References
Talk to Frank
(drugs information service)
www.talktofrank.com
0800 776600
Release
(drugs information service)
www.release.org.uk
0845 4500 215
'Cocaine and the Heart'
New England Journal of Medicine 2003
Vol 348:487-488
Kloner.R, Rezkalla.S
Cocaine Abuse: Repolarisation Abnormalities
and Ventricular Arrhythmias. The American Journal of Medical
Science 2000
Vol 320 (1)
Gamouras.G et al