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What
does it do? As with any drug, it’s effect
depends on the drug, your state of mind and the environment you’re
in. Its effect will also depend on how it was administered.
Put
simply, it is a dissociative anaesthetic which
blocks incoming data to your brain, blocks your normal thinking,
memory and basically your brain thinks it’s no longer attached
to you; it’s somewhere else – so the brain then creates
it’s own reality. Euphoria and waves of energy, co-ordination can be affected, you
may become disorientated or feel sick as your balance goes –
which in itself leaves you at risk of serious accident.
Memory
Whilst
taking Ketamine, the user's memory is very poor and higher doses
can cause total amnesia for things that happened whilst under the
influence. People may also have difficulty following conversations
and thinking logically when taking Ketamine.
According the a recent report by the Advisory Council on the
Misuse of Drugs that the intoxication produces profound effects on
the memory. They advise that there is now some evidence to show
that subtle memory deficits persist for longer than 3 days after
use and are worse for regular users of the drug. Memory problems
clearly have implications for school work, personal and working
life.
DANGERS
In
higher doses (and it is unlikely you will know how much is a high
or low dose), there is what is known as the K-hole experience.
Some liken it to a near death or near birth experience, a feeling
of leaving the body, being unable to talk or communicate –
which leaves you vulnerable and the anaesthetic leaves
you in danger of seriously hurting yourself and not feeling it.
Ingesting a high dose can cause users to lose consciousness and
become very disorientated with a danger of users choking on their
own vomit. Regular users can still experience overdose as you do
not know what the dose is or what has been mixed with it.
Are
there any other risks?
People have died from injecting
large doses of Ketamine. ‘Ketamine Psychosis’, like
amphetamine psychosis, does occur as a result of too much too
often. It can be psychologically addictive and can lead to compulsive
use. Tolerance (the need to take larger amounts) can develop
quite quickly leading to 'binges' on the drug.
Like
other anaesthetics, drinking or eating anything in the hours before
you use it could cause you to be sick which poses a risk of choking
to death if you are unconscious. Avoid mixing with Alcohol as
this increases the sedative effect and its mixture with alcohol
and sedative drugs have been linked with fatalities.
There
are reports of people experiencing mental health problems such
as depression, panic attacks, insomnia and suicide. As yet there
is little research available into the long-term health effects.
As
it has very strong psychedelic-like properties – anyone
with a history of mental illness or epileptic fits is advised
to avoid this one.
USING REGULARLY
With any drug, using regularly can lead to dependence. Those who
begin to use more and more and more often can suffer from low mood
and lack of energy, urinary tract problems which can lead to
severe consequences; associated ulcerative cystitis means you have
to stop. Failure to do so could mean hospitalisation and in the
worst case scenario - irreversible bladder or renal damage. That
applies whether you use a little or a lot. Users are open to abuse
through their inability to look after themselves whilst under the
influence.
Cramping sensation or severe abdominal pain need to be reported to
your doctor as this can be the first sign of problems with the
urinary tract and should not be ignored.
Severe anxiety and urinary tract pain have been reported as
problems arising during detoxification for those who have become
regular users also.
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