The number of people who abuse ketamine is fewer than many other drugs, with under 1% of the teen and young adult population reported using ketamine recreationally. Fewer showing signs of addiction – however, use has been rising in recent years. American treatment centers have reported an increased number of ketamine patients. It is important to have accurate addiction treatment information available for people who feel they have become addicted to ketamine to promote harm reduction and recovery.

Ketamine was originally developed and approved for use as general anesthesia in 1970. As its use in medical settings became more common, recreational use and addiction increased. By the 1980s, ketamine had become a popular club drug and a date rape drug, with nicknames like Special K and Cat Valium. This led to ketamine becoming a controlled substance by the FDA, which reduced its use in medical treatment in favor of other anesthetic medications. This also decreased the amount of street use of ketamine, with drugs like cocaine or molly rising in popularity and addiction rates. Recently, the medical community has begun to explore the use of ketamine as a treatment for depression. However, this is still a relatively uncommon practice.

In a recreational setting, the dissociative anesthetic properties cause psychotic symptoms of being disconnected from reality – this can range from feelings of utter bliss for some to severe anxiety for others. Ketamine can also have hallucinogenic effects, as it has some similar properties to phencyclidine (PCP), although far less potent. The euphoric feelings described are often where the potential for addiction lies when users look to self-medicate feelings of depression with ketamine without treating the root causes. This leads to a cycle of addiction where someone feels like they need ketamine to cope with social situations or daily life.

Ketamine’s effects depend on the user’s surroundings, unique physiology, and interactions with other drugs. In very high doses, users may report a total out-of-body experience or a k-hole, where they cannot interact with their surroundings at all.

Ketamine also frequently causes memory loss and difficulty moving, so it may be used as a date rape drug.

Users may have dilated pupils, sweating, and poor motor skills while under the influence.

In medical procedures, the effects of ketamine are sedation, temporary pain relief, and relief of depression. The risk of addiction is mitigated when ketamine is used under the supervision of a medical professional, as they will monitor the patient and work with them on the root causes of their symptoms. With a controlled dose and environment, the effects of extreme anxiety are unlikely to happen.

Ketamine can be found in powder form, where it may be snorted or put in a capsule and swallowed. It can also be found in a liquid form that may be injected or mixed into drinks, commonly used as a date rape drug.

Snorting and drinking ketamine are the most common ways people will consume the drug recreationally; injection is more often found in medical settings.

Ketamine is most common as a club drug. While it is significantly less popular than MDMA, cocaine, and alcohol, users report enjoying certain types of music more while using ketamine. It is a short-acting drug, with the effects of ketamine usually lasting about an hour per dose.

Someone suffering from addiction will need to use ketamine frequently to keep feeling the effects.

Ketamine is also known as a date rape drug due to its effects on memory impairment and disassociation from reality – this can leave an unknowing user confused and unable to react to their surroundings. This is heightened when the ketamine is mixed with alcohol or other drugs.