Ketamine use sparks drug policy concerns

Ketamine has ‘come out of nowhere’ in the last decade to be an increasingly popular drug among young people, research has found.

Researchers at the University of Bath and Lancaster have found that use of the illegal drug among young people (including students and those in full time employment) is increasing worldwide. Use among clubbers has trebled in ten years.

This is despite the fact it was made illegal in 2006 and was recently classified as a Class C substance, leading to growing concern over the government’s drug policy.

Dr Fiona Measham of Lancaster University said:

"Ketamine has come out of nowhere. Ten to 15 years ago, few people were choosing to take ketamine but now it’s in the 'top seven' drugs according to Drugscope. Over the past ten years it’s gone from 2 to 3% of clubbers to three times that in terms of monthly usage."

The popularity of ketamine may stem from the lack of information young people have been given about the drug, particularly given the dangers associated with using ketamine in combination with alcohol, the academics have said.

A user in one of the studies on ketamine, ‘Carl’, described it as ‘the most fun you can have for twenty quid’

Dr Karenza Moore of Lancaster University said:

“Since classification British users report little or no change in price, availability, patterns of use, nor their perceptions of ketamine, leading us to question the deterrent value of current British drug policy”.

The government’s faith in the effectiveness of the ABC classification system has been evident the recent reclassification of cannabis to Class B.
Ketamine was originally developed in the 1960s as an anaesthetic and is still used by the veterinary and medical professions. Ceap and easily available, ketamine has short lasting, mildly hallucinogenic properties.

However the study also found that among non users of ketamine, there was irritation at people taking the drug when out then needing to be ‘looked after’, due to their intoxicated state.