Ketamine is a medication that doctors use as an anesthetic to induce loss of consciousness. It is an approved medical product as an injectable, short-acting anesthetic for use in humans and animals. Ketamine is also used in the emergency department setting to produce short-term sedation, reducing fractures, treating joint dislocations, and repairing wounds in uncooperative individuals, such as children. Some studies suggest that the drug may have other medical uses, but more research is necessary to prove its safety and effectiveness in these areas.

However, ketamine is also abused for its ability to produce dissociative sensations and hallucinations. Some people use ketamine for its hallucinogenic properties, and it can sedate, incapacitate, and cause short-term memory loss. Because of this, some people use it as a date-rape drug. When sold illegally, ketamine usually comes as a white or off-white powder, and it can also be made into pills or dissolved in a liquid.

Ketamine is a dissociative drug, which means it acts on different chemicals in the brain to produce visual and auditory distortion and a detachment from reality. Some ketamine experiences involve a terrifying feeling of almost complete sensory detachment that is likened to a near-death experience. These experiences, similar to a “bad trip” on LSD, are called the “K-hole” . Low-dose intoxication from ketamine results in impaired attention, learning ability, and memory. In high doses, ketamine can cause delirium, amnesia, impaired motor function, high blood pressure, depression, and potentially fatal respiratory problems.

In summary, ketamine is primarily used as an anesthetic in medical settings, but it is also abused for its hallucinogenic properties and can be used as a date-rape drug. It is important to distinguish between the valid medical uses and the potential for abuse and harmful effects when considering the use of ketamine.