Ketamine utilize is at an all-time high. 5 things worth knowing before the festival season

You’re preparing for music festival season and considering your options – what artists you want to see, who’s going, what outfits you’ll need, how you’ll get there, and perhaps what substances you plan to take.

Have you heard about ketamineI’ve thought about trying it out and maybe played around with it a few times. You may have friends who have tried it or utilize it regularly.

In fact, data released today suggests that ketamine consumption in Australia is low highest level of all time.

Here are five things you need to know about ketamine (and other substances) to keep you and your friends safe and sound this party season.

What is ketamine?

Ketamine was developed in the 1960s and is widely used as an anesthetic for humans and veterinary medicine. More recently, ketamine has been used in medicine in compact doses for pain relief and as an antidepressant. A growing number clinical trials are investigating whether it may be a useful adjunct to psychotherapy for substance utilize disorders and mental health conditions.

Ketamine is used recreationally, known as K, special vitamin K, vitamin K, kit kat or ket. It is commonly sold as a white powder that is inhaled, producing stimulant and hallucinogenic effects.

Taking too much can cause unpleasant and disturbing effects called the “K-hole”. This happens when people feel disconnected from their body and surroundings, experiencing a sleep-like state (known as dissociation).

Other effects include nausea, vomiting and in some cases convulsions. One study found that ketamine can irritate the bladder lining approximately every fourth People who used ketamine recreationally experienced urinary symptoms such as burning or stinging.

Why is ketamine consumption so high?

Ketamine continues to become the drug of choice for many people in the party scene.

Australian National Drug Strategy 2022-2023 Household Survey estimated Over the past 12 months, 300,000 people in the community have used ketamine. That’s about triple the 2016 figure and is close to estimates 400,000 people using MDMA.

Results from across Australia released today show that levels of ketamine released into sewage were at an all-time high, both in capital cities and in regional areas.

It is unclear why ketamine utilize is increasing. Perhaps this is because it is slightly cheaper than other drugs such as cocaine. Perhaps the dissociative effects of ketamine are attracting the attention of those interested in altered states of consciousness. It may also be perceived as safer and more acceptable due to its increasing medical utilize.

Is it ketamine or something else?

In Australia, the purity of ketamine varies greatly. What you buy will likely contain other substances, so it’s complex to know what you’re getting and how it will affect you.

Ketamine analogues are substances with a chemical structure similar to ketamine, but producing different effects. Many of these analogues were found during drug checking (also known as pill testing). These include CanKet and roofing (veterinary sedative).

These analogues may work slower (so people may be tempted to take more). Their effects may last longer than regular ketamine.

You may also have heard of “pink cocaine”, one of several drugs linked to: recent death former One Direction singer Liam Payne. Pink cocaine is usually a mixture of ketamine and MDMA, not cocaine. This too known as tusi.

Worryingly, in Australia, powerful opioid drugs called nitazines have also been detected in ketamine. They have also been detected in cocaine and MDMA.

Can ketamine lead to addiction?

Regular utilize of ketamine can lead to psychological addiction, where people feel a powerful need to utilize even if they have already begun to experience harmful effects.

Although the numbers are relatively low, an increasing number juvenile people in the UK are seeking treatment for using ketamine. In addition to liver and brain damage, chronic (long-term) ketamine utilize may result bladder damagewhich may require surgery.

Avoid using ketamine regularly and seek professional support early if you think you need support with your utilize.

How to stay safe and sound

1. Check your drugs

In Australia, drug checking services are available in some areas. These non-judgmental, affable services can test your medicine while you wait, giving you critical information about what is (or isn’t) in it. You can then decide what you want to do with it.

You can go to a fixed site such as CanTest in the Australian Capital Territory or Checkpoint in Queensland before the festival to test his drugs. Some festivals or events have such elements on-site servicesincluding this year’s students on the Gold Coast in Queensland.

You can also look out for local drug alerts (for ketamine and other drugs on the market) posted on websites like ours – TheKnow.org.au.

2. Start low, go ponderous

If you plan to take ketamine (or any other drug), start with a compact amount to feel the effects before taking more. Wait a few hours before re-administration.

3. Avoid mixing medications

Avoid using ketamine with other substances as they may interact and boost the risk of harm. Alcohol and ketamine in compact doses it can cause nausea and vomiting, and in larger doses it can cause more sedate effects such as stroke and cardiac arrest.

When mixed with ketamine, sedatives such as GHB, opioids, and benzodiazepines (for example, Valium) can cause loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, and in some cases, death.

4. Tell your friends

If you plan to utilize ketamine, utilize it with people you feel safe and sound with. Let others know what you took, and if possible, take a friend with you who doesn’t utilize. If you are concerned about the effects of a drug, seek support.

Music festivals often have supporting teams of people with experience with drug utilize (e.g DanceWize). These peers can give you advice on safer partying and drug utilize.

5. Be prepared

Because ketamine may contain opioids, everyone should be prepared to recognize the symptoms of an opioid overdose – disturbance or loss of consciousness, ponderous or complex breathing.

Naloxone can and does reverse the effects of an opioid overdose available free of charge and without a prescription in some pharmacies in Australia.

---

If this article is causing problems for you or someone you know, please call the 24-hour Alcohol and Other Drugs Information Service on 1800 250 015. For emergencies in Australia, call 000.