Currently, there are many types of drugs circulating widely in the market, such as crystal meth, ecstasy, and American weed. Ketamine is classified by experts and lawmakers as a type of synthetic drug. The recreational community often refers to Ketamine simply as “Ke”.
What is Ketamine?
According to Wikipedia: “Ketamine is sold under the brand name Ketalar and several other names. It is primarily used to initiate and maintain anesthesia. It induces a trance-like state, providing pain relief, sedation, and amnesia. Other effects include alleviating chronic pain and providing sedation in emergency medicine. Heart function, respiratory ability, and general breathing remain stable while using this drug. The effects typically begin within five minutes of injection and last up to 25 minutes.”
Is Ketamine a Drug?
Ketamine is classified by experts and lawmakers as a synthetic drug.
Ketamine is available in liquid form, crystalline powder, tablets, and dissolvable capsules in water or alcohol. If injected intravenously, a person may lose consciousness within a minute.
In addition to its legal use in medicine (under the supervision of regulatory authorities) for pain relief, resuscitation, and emergency treatment, Ketamine is also considered a recreational drug due to its rapid “high”. According to experts, the hallucinogenic effects of Ketamine can last for an hour, but it continues to affect the body for the next 24 hours.
The Dangers of Ketamine
Not only in our country but in many parts of the world, Ketamine is classified as a synthetic drug capable of causing hallucinations, delusions, severe agitation, insensitivity to pain, visual disturbances, altered taste and touch sensations, disorientation in time and space, and short-term memory loss that can lead to unsafe behaviors for oneself and others. In our country, many tragic cases have occurred due to Ketamine addicts committing crimes such as murder and arson, resulting in extremely serious consequences for families and society.
Furthermore, recent studies have identified several side effects of Ketamine, including drowsiness, increased blood pressure, and elevated heart rate. In cases of overdose, it can cause damage to the bladder and liver. Particularly, using high doses in combination with certain other drugs can lead to fatal consequences.
Due to these dangerous effects and its addictive nature, Ketamine is classified as a hallucinogenic drug, and experts advise the public to avoid it (only use under the guidance of reputable and licensed medical facilities).
Previously, in our country, Ketamine was regulated as a type of narcotic drug under Schedule A by the Ministry of Health. However, due to the illegal abuse of Ketamine leading to severe consequences for both users and society, on November 16, 2003, the government issued Decree 133/2003/ND-CP, adding Ketamine to Category III of “narcotic substances used in analysis, testing, scientific research, criminal investigation, or in the medical field as required for treatment.”
