The K That Kills
Veterinarians use ketamine to tranquilize animals. Doctors used it during the Vietnam War as an anesthetic for battlefield surgery. But use of this drug, commonly referred to as Special K and also known as Vitamin K, Kit Kat, Keller, and Cat Valium, is increasing in popularity as a club drug. Special K also is being used as a "date rape" drug because, when slipped into someone's drink, it can render him or her unconscious.

Special K first became popular for illicit use in the 1970s and 1980s, and it resurfaced in the past decade in the rave scene. The number of hospital emergency room mentions of ketamine have increased from 19 (in 1994) to 263 in 2000.

Also, more high school students are experimenting with this dangerous drug. Past year ketamine use among high school teens in 2001 was higher than past year use of the club drug GHB and higher than lifetime use of Rohypnol.

More teens are discovering this hazardous drug, and its frequent use has been reported in cities like Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston,
Chicago, Newark, New York City, Phoenix, San Diego, and Washington, DC.

Special K comes in tablet, powder, or liquid form. It's actually similar in appearance to cocaine and methamphetamine and is sometimes mistaken for those drugs. In powder form, it's
sometimes sprinkled on tobacco or marijuana and smoked. It also can be injected, but the tranquilizing effects of the drug are so powerful that users sometimes lose control of their bodies before they finish the injection.

The "zoned-out" state produced by Special K is known as "K-hole." Users may experience hallucinations, visual distortions, paranoia, and feelings of non-reality. Some users have even described a "near-death" type of experience.
Because Special K is a disassociative drug, the user loses the normal sense of connection between body and mind. For example, if a user becomes physically hurt while high, he or she may not realize it because the feedback loop between mind and body has been cut off. In fact, people sometimes cut or burn themselves while high on Special K. Short-term effects usually last from 1 to 6 hours, but sometimes the effects don't wear off for 24 to 48 hours.

Physical effects include slurred speech, vomiting, increased heart rate and blood pressure, loss of coordination, troublebreathing, and paralysis. Large doses increase the risk of convulsions, brain damage, heart attack, stroke, coma, and
death.

The user also may lose consciousness, putting
himself or herself at greater risk for sexual or other types ofassault.

Get the facts about the illicit use of Special K and other club drugs. Legally, ketamine is a Schedule III drug; it can only be used by veterinarians, and any other possession of the drug is illegal.

If you are into all-night dance parties, clubbing, or concerts, be aware of the strong drug culture in these environments. Clubs, parties, or raves are the usual venue for the sale and use of Special K and other club drugs because the stimulating atmosphere may enhance the user's high.
Your may be only interested in listening to music or hanging out with friends, but be prepared to deal with peer pressure to use drugs at clubs as well as in other environments.

Click to read other specific effects of Special K