Towards an Explanation of Subjective Ketamine Experiences among Young Injection Drug Users

Abstract

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with powerful sedative and hallucinogenic properties. Despite the wide variability in reported subjective experiences, no study has attempted to describe the particular factors that shape these experiences. This manuscript is based upon a sample of 213 young injection drug users recruited in New York, New Orleans, and Los Angeles with histories of ketamine use. Qualitative interviews focused on specific ketamine events, such as first injection of ketamine, most recent injection of ketamine, and most recent experience sniffing ketamine. Findings indicate that six factors impacted both positive and negative ketamine experiences: polydrug use, drug using history, mode of administration, quantity and quality of ketamine, user group, and setting. Most subjective experiences during any given ketamine event were shaped by a combination of these factors. Additionally, subjective ketamine experiences were particularly influenced by a lifestyle characterized by homelessness and traveling.

Post-Marketing Safety Concerns with Esketamine: A Disproportionality Analysis of Spontaneous Reports Submitted to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System

“…Although misuse was not formally reported in FAERS, AEs such as euphoric mood, dissociation and related symptoms (i.e., autoscopy, derealization, dissociative disorder, disorientation), feeling drunk, and hallucinations are in line with the esketamine potential for misuse and abuse, as they produce a desired mental state and perceptual changes [42,43], that were also found to occur immediately after administration. Similar effects have been previously described for gabapentin [42] and ketamine, which has become a popular recreational drug [44][45][46].…”

The Neuroethics of Pleasure and Addiction in Public Health Strategies Moving Beyond Harm Reduction: Funding the Creation of Non-Addictive Drugs and Taxonomies of Pleasure

“…Hence any consideration of the neuroethics of addiction must begin with delineating the boundaries of inquiry. Addressing social, political and economic factors such as deprivation fostering addiction or the merits of the harm reduction movement falls outside the scope of neuroscience, as do suggested remedies such as raised taxes on alcohol, fostering social inclusion and redressing global poverty [7][8][9]. Rather, this article will focus on ethical issues provoked by the neuroscience of addiction with respect to differences between individuals, species and psychoactive substances in order to evaluate future options to minimise harmful outcomes of addiction.…”

Sphincter of oddi dysfunction induced by ketamine: A case report

“…It is abused in many parts of the world. 1 Although the recreational dosage is 15%-20% lower than the amount used for anesthesia, the extended and widespread recreational use of this substance has led to an increase in both side effects and fatalities. 2 In the United States, more than 2.3 million teens and adults used ketamine in their lifetime.…”

“…Street ketamine can be inhaled, swallowed, or injected. It is abused in many parts of the world 1 . Although the recreational dosage is 15%–20% lower than the amount used for anesthesia, the extended and widespread recreational use of this substance has led to an increase in both side effects and fatalities 2 .…”