You’re preparing for music festival season and considering your options – what artists you ought to see, who’s going, what outfits you will need, how you will get there, and maybe what substances you propose to take.
Have you heard about ketamineI’ve thought of trying it out and perhaps played around with it a couple of times. You could have friends who’ve tried it or use it frequently.
In fact, data released today suggests that ketamine consumption in Australia is at levels highest level of all time.
Here are five things it’s essential learn about ketamine (and other substances) to maintain you and your folks protected this party season.
What is ketamine?
Ketamine was developed in the Nineteen Sixties and is widely used as an anesthetic for humans and veterinary medicine. More recently, ketamine has been utilized in medicine in small doses for pain relief and as an antidepressant. A growing number (*5*)clinical trials are investigating whether it could be a useful adjunct to psychotherapy for substance use disorders and mental health conditions.
Ketamine is used recreationally, often known as K, special vitamin K, vitamin K, kit kat or ket. It is commonly sold as a white powder that is inhaled, producing stimulant and hallucinogenic effects.
Taking an excessive amount of may cause unpleasant and disturbing effects called the “K-hole”. This happens when people feel disconnected from their body and surroundings, experiencing a sleep-like state (often known as dissociation).
Other effects include nausea, vomiting and in some cases convulsions. One study found that ketamine can irritate the bladder lining approximately every fourth People who used ketamine recreationally experienced urinary symptoms reminiscent of burning or stinging.
Why is ketamine consumption so high?
Ketamine continues to turn out to be the drug of alternative for many individuals in the party scene.
Australian National Drug Strategy 2022-2023 Household Survey estimated Over the past 12 months, 300,000 people in the community have used ketamine. That’s about triple the 2016 figure and is near estimates 400,000 people using MDMA.
Results from across Australia released today show that levels of ketamine released into sewage were at an all-time high, each in capital cities and in regional areas.
It is unclear why ketamine use is increasing. Perhaps this is since it is barely cheaper than other drugs reminiscent of cocaine. Perhaps the dissociative effects of ketamine are attracting the attention of those excited about altered states of consciousness. It might also be perceived as safer and more acceptable on account of its increasing medical use.
Is it ketamine or something else?
In Australia, the purity of ketamine varies greatly. What you purchase will likely contain other substances, so it’s difficult to know what you are getting and the way it would affect you.
Ketamine analogues are substances with a chemical structure much like ketamine, but producing different effects. Many of those analogues were found during drug checking (also often known as pill testing). These include CanKet and roofing (veterinary sedative).
These analogues may go slower (so people could also be tempted to take more). Their effects may last more than regular ketamine.
You might also have heard of “pink cocaine”, one in all several drugs linked to: recent death former One Direction singer Liam Payne. Pink cocaine is normally a mix of ketamine and MDMA, not cocaine. This too often known as tusi.
Worryingly, in Australia, strong opioid drugs called nitazines have also been detected in ketamine. They have also been detected in cocaine and MDMA.
Can ketamine result in addiction?
Regular use of ketamine can result in psychological addiction, where people feel a robust must use even in the event that they have already begun to experience harmful effects.
Although the numbers are relatively low, an increasing number young people in the UK are looking for treatment for using ketamine. In addition to liver and brain damage, chronic (long-term) ketamine use may result bladder damagewhich can require surgery.
Avoid using ketamine frequently and seek skilled help early in case you think you would like help along with your use.
How to remain protected
1. Check your drugs
In Australia, drug checking services can be found in some areas. These non-judgmental, friendly services can test your medicine when you wait, supplying you with necessary details about what is (or is not) in it. You can then resolve what you ought to do with it.
You can go to a hard and fast site reminiscent of CanTest in the Australian Capital Territory or Checkpoint in Queensland before the festival to check his drugs. Some festivals or events have such elements on-site servicesincluding this 12 months’s students on the Gold Coast in Queensland.
You also can look out for local drug alerts (for ketamine and other drugs on the market) posted on web sites like ours – TheKnow.org.au.
2. Start low, go slow
If you propose to take ketamine (or another drug), start with a small amount to feel the effects before taking more. Wait a couple of hours before re-administration.
3. Avoid mixing medications
Avoid using ketamine with other substances as they might interact and increase the risk of harm. Alcohol and ketamine in small doses it may cause nausea and vomiting, and in larger doses it may cause more serious effects reminiscent of stroke and cardiac arrest.
When mixed with ketamine, sedatives reminiscent of GHB, opioids, and benzodiazepines (for instance, Valium) may cause lack of consciousness, difficulty respiratory, and in some cases, death.
4. Tell your folks
If you propose to use ketamine, use it with people you are feeling protected with. Let others know what you took, and if possible, take a friend with you who doesn’t use. If you’re concerned about the effects of a drug, seek help.
Music festivals often have supporting teams of individuals with experience with drug use (e.g DanceWize). These peers can offer you advice on safer partying and drug use.
5. Be prepared
Because ketamine may contain opioids, everyone must be prepared to acknowledge the symptoms of an opioid overdose – disturbance or lack of consciousness, slow or difficult respiratory.
Naloxone can and does reverse the effects of an opioid overdose available freed from charge and and not using a prescription in some pharmacies in Australia.