Ketamine's Intriguing Mechanism: How Does Ket Work?

Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic that can be snorted, swallowed, injected, or evaporated and snorted. It is used as a recreational drug and for medical purposes. In low doses, it can be used as a stimulant, while in higher doses, it can cause dream-like states and hallucinations, as well as complete feelings of being disconnected from reality. The effects of ketamine vary from person to person and can include sensations of lightness, different thought patterns, changed sensations of sight and sound, difficulty moving, and a feeling of the body and mind being separated. It is important to note that mixing ketamine with other drugs can be dangerous and can lead to vulnerabilities to injury and death.

Ketamine's effects on the body

Ketamine is a dissociative drug that can distort sensory perception and make users feel detached from themselves and their surroundings. It is a powerful general anaesthetic that can reduce sensations in the body and impair movement.

The effects of ketamine can be felt within 15-20 minutes of use and can last for 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the dosage. At relatively low doses, ketamine can cause disorientation, confusion, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. It can also increase blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and body temperature. Users may also experience hallucinations and a distorted perception of time and space.

Ketamine is a very powerful anaesthetic that can cause serious harm and even death, especially when mixed with other drugs. It can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, and cause confusion, agitation, delirium, and a disconnection from reality. It can also lead to muscle paralysis, leaving users vulnerable to hurting themselves or being hurt by others.

Long-term ketamine use has been associated with memory impairment, declines in executive functioning, and cognitive and emotional changes that may predispose someone to develop a ketamine addiction or addiction to other substances. It can also cause serious bladder problems, abdominal pain, and liver damage.

Ketamine's effects on the mind

Ketamine is a powerful general anaesthetic that can induce a "dissociative experience" or a "trip". The drug can cause a range of psychological effects, including:

• Feelings of detachment or dissociation from one's feelings, thoughts, surroundings, identity, and body
• Feelings of relaxation and happiness
• Confusion, delirium, and disconnection from reality
• Hallucinations and an altered perception of time and space
• Memory loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• Slowed or slurred speech and movement
• Agitation
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Difficulty concentrating
• Depression

The intensity and duration of these effects depend on various factors, including the dosage, the user's size, and whether other drugs are also ingested. On average, ketamine takes about 15-20 minutes to take effect and the effects can last for 30 minutes to 2 hours.

In addition to its psychological effects, ketamine can also cause physical harm, including serious bladder problems and liver damage. Regular use of ketamine can lead to tolerance and psychological dependence, with users becoming addicted to the drug.

How to take ketamine

Ketamine is a powerful general anaesthetic that can be used in different forms and has various effects on the body and mind. It is important to note that ketamine is a Class B drug, meaning it is illegal to have, give away or sell. Possession can result in up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. Supplying someone, even friends, can lead to up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

Ketamine is most commonly snorted as a powder, with users referring to taking a 'bump', which is a small amount of the drug. It can also be swallowed as a tablet, although this is less common. Some people also 'bomb' it, which involves swallowing the powder wrapped in cigarette paper. For a more intense hit, people may inject ketamine into a muscle.

Effects and Risks

Ketamine reduces sensations in the body and can induce a dream-like, detached state. It can also cause confusion, nausea, and hallucinations. The effects can last from 30 minutes to 2 hours. It is dangerous to mix ketamine with other drugs, especially alcohol, benzos, or opiates. It is advised never to use ketamine alone and without people you trust around.

Health Risks and Addiction

Ketamine can cause serious harm to the body, including increasing heart rate and blood pressure, and can even be fatal, especially when mixed with other drugs. Regular use can lead to bladder problems, abdominal pain, liver damage, memory loss, and depression. It is possible to become addicted to ketamine, and users may develop a tolerance, leading them to take higher doses.

Ketamine's legality

Ketamine is a controlled substance in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe. This means its production and distribution are carefully monitored and controlled. While it is available as a prescription for at-home use, it is only legally allowed in specific circumstances under qualified supervision.

In the United States, ketamine is a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act, indicating a moderate-low potential for physical dependence and a higher risk for psychological dependence. Possession of ketamine can result in up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. Supplying someone, even friends, can lead to up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

China has proposed an international ban on ketamine due to the dangers of misuse and the production of black-market ketamine in the country. However, this proposal has faced significant pushback due to ketamine's accepted medical uses.

Despite its controlled status, ketamine is legal in most US states and many countries worldwide. Its therapeutic value is recognised, particularly for mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and addiction. It is also used as an anesthetic for surgery and in veterinary medicine.

Ketamine's history as a medicine

Ketamine was first synthesised in 1962 by Calvin L. Stevens, a professor of chemistry at Wayne State University. It was derived from phencyclidine (PCP) in pursuit of a safer anaesthetic with fewer hallucinogenic effects. After promising preclinical research on animals, ketamine was tested on human prisoners in 1964. These tests demonstrated that ketamine had a shorter duration of action and reduced behavioural toxicity, making it a favourable choice over PCP as an anaesthetic.

Ketamine was approved for use in the United States in 1970. It was first used on American soldiers during the Vietnam War for battlefield surgery. It proved to be a highly effective anaesthetic, but it soon began to be illicitly abused, starting on the West Coast in the early 1970s. Throughout the 70s, psychiatric and academic research on the effects of ketamine began.

Ketamine's use as a party drug began to increase in the 1980s, spreading across the US. Around this time, new forms of the drug appeared on the street drug market, including capsules, powders, tablets, solutions, and injectable forms. In the mid-80s, it was frequently adopted by subcultures such as rave culture, and was commonly sold as "ecstasy".

By the mid-80s, ketamine's illicit use dominated the conversation around the drug. It was still used medically as an anaesthetic, but it was also widely abused. In 1999, the United States made ketamine a federally controlled substance in an attempt to curb its illicit use. Ketamine stopped being widely used both medically and illicitly after it became a controlled substance.

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