Your harm reduction guide to Ketamine

by Becky Risley

We want to make sure you’re safe, whatever substance you choose to use. That’s why we’ve created a series of guidance telling you how you to look after yourself, before, during and after using a substance.

So let’s get started…

Ketamine. From a chemical point of view, Ketamine is an anaesthetic, which can make people feel dissociated from mind and body. You might hear it called K, Special K, Super K, Vitamin K and sometimes Wonk or Wobble.

It’s getting a lot of attention in the media at the moment because of the long term effects it can have on your urinary system such as severe abdominal pains, bladder and kidney damage, ulcerative cystitis and incontinence.

Making you aware of the harm Ketamine can cause is important so you can make informed decisions.

So, if you do decide to use Ketamine, how can you reduce the harm?

Before

Checked your Ket?

• Sometimes Ket is mixed with other substances making it more dangerous such as Nitazenes.
• Reagent kits or WEDINOS can tell you what you’re using.
• Speak to your specialist drug and alcohol practitioner for more info on drug checking.

Crush your Ket

• Lumps or chunks of Ket are not absorbed through the mucus membrane in the nose.
• This can cause irritation and infections.
• Crushing it into a fine powder before snorting can help reduce the damage to the nostrils.
• Avoid sharing any snorting equipment to prevent the spread of germs and bloodborne viruses.

How much is too much?

• Start low and go slow.
• A smaller dose = euphoria, sense of calm, disorientation and confusion.
• Large doses = risk of “k-hole” (an intense out-of-body or near-death like experience with very realistic visuals), temporary paralysis, greater risk of overdose.
• Everyone’s tolerance is different and what might be ok for friends might be too much for you.
• If you’re using regularly your tolerance will increase quickly.

During

Ket and alcohol

• Ket magnifies the effects of alcohol increasing the risk of falling unconscious.
• It reduces the gag reflex which would wake us up if we needed to be sick.
• If a friend is going to bed after using Ket and alcohol, put them in the recovery position.

Ket and other drugs

• Taking with depressants (GHB/GBL, benzodiazepines such as Valium, or opiates such as heroin) can cause unconsciousness and stop your breathing.
• Taking Ket with stimulants (such as cocaine and ecstasy) may overload your heart and increase agitation and anxiety as well as accidents and injury.
• Check out Drugsand.me to learn more about the risks of drug combinations.

How can I help a friend who is freaking out?

• If somebody is having a bad trip when using Ket take them somewhere quiet where they feel safe.
• Try to calm and reassure them (it will pass, the drugs will wear off).
• This can take hours, so be patient.
• If their breathing becomes very fast, help them control it by breathing through the nose, counting 4 on the in and 6 on the outbreath.

After

Wash your nose out

• Wash your nose out with warm water to protect the nostrils from any further damage.

Hydrate and eat well

• Drink plenty of water and load up on nutritious food like fruit and vegetables.

Rest

• Using any illicit substance disrupts our usual sleep cycle.
• Poor quality of sleep can impact on our immune system, mood and resilience to cope with problems or issues.

Speak to someone

• If you are feeling anxious or worried in the days after using speak to your friends or someone you feel comfortable discussing it with.

Take a break

• Regular Ket use can cause damage to the bladder and urinary tract.
• It can also affect memory and mental sharpness because of the dissociative effects of Ket.
• It can therefore negatively affect work, education, and relationships.

If you have more questions, need support or want to make a change to your Ketamine use, just get in touch. You can find out more about me and the UWE drug and alcohol service on our drugs and alcohol webpage.