Ketamine

Ketamine is an injectable anesthetic that has been approved for both human and animal use in medical settings since 1970. About 90 percent of the ketamine legally sold today is intended for veterinary use. It's slang or street names are Special K, K, Vitamin K or Cat Valiums.

Ketamine gained popularity for abuse in the 1980s, when it was realized that large doses cause reactions similar to those associated with use of phencyclidine (PCP), such as dreamlike states and hallucinations. Ketamine is produced in liquid form or as a white powder that is often snorted or smoked with marijuana or tobacco products.

At higher doses, ketamine can cause delirium, amnesia, impaired motor function, high blood pressure, depression, and potentially fatal respiratory problems. Low-dose intoxication from ketamine results in impaired attention, learning ability, and memory. Because it is often colorless, tasteless, and odorless, it can be added to beverages and ingested unknowingly.

Emergency room mentions of ketamine rose from 19 in 1994 to 396 in 1999. Recent use has been reported more frequently among white youth in many cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Newark, New York City, Phoenix, San Diego, Texas, and Washington, DC.