Ketamine has medical uses, but it is also illegal to use for recreation
FILE – A vial of ketamine is displayed for a photograph in Chicago on July 25, 2018. An investigation by The Associated Press has found that at least 17 people died in Florida in 2012-2021 following physical encounters with police during which medical personnel also injected them with a powerful sedative. The practice spread nationally over the last 15 years, built on questionable science and backed by police-aligned experts. (AP Photo/Teresa Crawford, File) (Teresa Crawford, Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) ORLANDO, Fla. – Ketamine is back in the news as new court documents show former UCF basketball player Marcus Jordan is now facing ketamine possession charges stemming from a Feb. 4 DUI arrest.
Ketamine also made the news last year after the doctor who supplied ketamine to actor Matthew Perry, who died from an overdose in 2023, pleaded guilty.
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This anesthetic has a long history as an illicit psychedelic drug. A recent study from the University of California San Diego found recreational ketamine use among adults has increased 40% from 2021 to 2022.
Lately, however, it’s also been used as a possible treatment for depression, mood disorders or pain.
Here’s what to know about ketamine. How ketamine is used
Ketamine is a powerful anesthetic approved by U.S. health regulators for use during surgery in humans and animals. It can be given as an intramuscular injection or by IV. It is also sometimes used as a sedative by paramedics when dealing with an “out of control” subject, often with the help of police. Its usage is controversial, according to reporting by the Associated Press.
The drug is a chemical cousin of the recreational drug PCP. Ketamine itself has been used recreationally for its euphoric effects. It can cause hallucinations and can impact breathing and the heart.Ketamine is not yet approved for treatment of depression or anxiety, but doctors can use it for so-called off-label uses. Scientists are currently studying why it works , especially in cases of depression where nothing else seems to help. They […]
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