Ketamine (K, Special K, Vitamin K) was developed in the 1960s.  It is used as an animal tranquilizer by veterinarians and as anesthetic by physicians.  In the late 1970s, Ketamine emerged as a recreational drug.  Today, it has resurfaced on the rave scene and is popular with both teens and young adults.  It is a strong hallucinogenic drug that impairs perceptions, increases feelings of euphoria and distorts users' sense of time and place.

The Risks  

• Ketamine can cause extreme physical and mental problems including delirium and amnesia.

• It can have irreversible effects on the human motor system, impairing a person's ability to walk and perform simple tasks.

• Taking Ketamine just one time can cause fatal respiratory problems and severe brain damage.  Erin Rose's heart stopped for 18 minutes, leaving her with the mental capacity of a young child, impaired speech and damaged motor skills.  Through months of rehabilitation, she is finally able to walk and talk again.  (More about Erin Rose)

• Ketamine can be mixed with other street drugs, intensifying the dangerous nature of its effects.  Ketamine, which comes in a powder form, can be sprinkled on tobacco or marijuana or mixed with other powerful drugs like LSD or speed (Methamphetamines).

• Along with GHB, Ketamine has long been a drug of choice for rapists.  It dissolves in any liquid and can be slipped into an unsuspecting victim's drink, after which he or she could be unconscious for hours.

The Signs  

• Ketamine users often have short attention spans and lose interest in things they once found fun or exciting.

• Those using Ketamine with some frequency often experience short-term memory loss.

• Depression and mood swings are common, as Ketamine users find it often hard to be happy when not on the drug.