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Drug Users Worldwide Fall into 'K-Hole'

Ketamine remains legal in some places, but can cause severe problems

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted May 23, 2009 12:28 PM CDT
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(Newser) – “Special K” isn’t part of the most important meal of the day. It’s part of a dangerous trend that’s seeing recreational drug users turn to ketamine, a substance commonly used as a horse tranquilizer, GlobalPost reports. In humans, ketamine induces a hallucinogenic, immobile state. “Everything kind of went into 3D like The Matrix,” recalled one user. “I was a mess.”

Extended abuse can cause severe bladder and kidney problems. Although several countries, including the US, have made the drug illegal to possess without a license or prescription, ketamine remains legal elsewhere, and it's booming in Asia, Europe, and North America. “It’s gone from something no one did to something that’s always there if you want it,” explained a researcher.

Ketamine, commonly used as a horse tranquilizer, is spreading beyond the club scene.
Ketamine, commonly used as a horse tranquilizer, is spreading beyond the club scene.   (Shutter Stock)
Ketamine, commonly used as a horse tranquilizer, is spreading beyond the club scene.
Ketamine, commonly used as a horse tranquilizer, is spreading beyond the club scene.   (Shutter Stock)
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The first time I knew I had taken too much. My friends were having to hold me up as I was walking along and though I knew my feet were touching the ground it felt like they were 10 steps behind me. - Ketamine user

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
Jes
May 25, 2009 3:49 AM CDT
What do they mean something no one heard of? I'm only 20, never touched anything stronger that pot (and that was only a couple times in high school) and I've know about Vitamin K for for years. Maybe it just comes from growing up in a small town; I've slowly been finding out that drug use seems to me more prevalent in small rural towns that people want to admit.
JonmarkP
May 23, 2009 11:02 AM CDT
"Everything kind of went into 3-D like The Matrix." WTF? Dude, everything is ALREADY in 3D. The Matrix was 2D. Hard to know if it's the K that fucks these people up, or if it's fucked-up people that tend to use K. Kind of a chicken/egg thing, I guess.
Jezze
May 23, 2009 6:41 AM CDT
Couldnt they have some less appealing images tagged with this!?

Urologists worry over drug's prevalence
GlobalPost

 
drugs • nightclub • recreational drugs • The Matrix • ketamine • Special K

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