Ketamine use among regular tobacco and alcohol users as revealed by respondent-driven sampling in Taipei: Prevalence, expectancy, and users' risky decision making

Abstract

The popularity of ketamine for recreational use among young people began to increase, particularly in Asia, in 2000. To gain more knowledge about the use of ketamine among high risk individuals, a respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was implemented among regular alcohol and tobacco users in the Taipei metropolitan area from 2007 to 2010. The sampling was initiated in three different settings (i.e., two in the community and one in a clinic) to recruit seed individuals. Each participant was asked to refer one to five friends known to be regular tobacco smokers and alcohol drinkers to participate in the present study. Incentives were offered differentially upon the completion of an interview and successful referral. Information pertaining to drug use experience was collected by an audio computer-assisted self-interview instrument. Software built for RDS analyses was used for data analyses. Of the 1,115 subjects recruited, about 11.7% of the RDS respondents reported ever having used ketamine. Positive expectancy of ketamine use was positively associated with ketamine use; in contrast, negative expectancy inversely associated with ketamine use. Decision-making characteristics as measured on the Iowa Gambling Task using reinforcement learning models revealed that ketamine users learned less from the most recent event than both tobacco- and drug-naïve controls and regular tobacco and alcohol users. These findings about ketamine use among young people have implications for its prevention and intervention.

Sexual and bladder dysfunction in male ketamine abusers: A large-scale questionnaire study

“…Ketamine is graded as level III illicit drug in Taiwan. Street KAs caught by policemen were requested to attend an educational course for 6–8 hours in Taiwan[3]. If there is concomitant use of higher level of illicit drugs (i.e.…”

“…However, it is now frequently used as a recreation drug due to its dissociative effect. In Taiwan, ketamine is classified as grade III illicit drug and was second to ecstasy as the most commonly consumed illegal drugs among young people[3]. Illicit ketamine use is associated with urological burden such as ketamine cystitis and erectile dysfunction[4–6].…”

Risk Factors of Lower Urinary Tract Syndrome among Ketamine Users

“…Lifetime use of ketamine was reported by 1% of those 14 years of age or older in an Australian household survey in 2004 . The lifetime prevalence of ketamine use among regular tobacco and alcohol users among the Asian population is 11.7% . Globally 26.6% of ketamine users experience the symptoms of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), including urgency, frequency, and dysuria, and secondary renal damage can occur in severe cases .…”

“…3 The lifetime prevalence of ketamine use among regular tobacco and alcohol users among the Asian population is 11.7%. 4 Globally 26.6% of ketamine users experience the symptoms of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), including urgency, frequency, and dysuria, 5 and secondary renal damage can occur in severe cases. 6 The mechanism of lower urinary tract destruction in ketamine users is associated with neuroinflammation and changes in visceral pain transmission.…”

Emerging drug problems in Asia

“…Further research is needed to determine the long-term risks of ketamine use and treatment approaches for those who become chronic ketamine users. Details of this presentation can be found in the article by Chen et al [2] included in this special issue.…”