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06/09/2005
Ketamine rises in popularity with UK clubbers
The use of a powerful anaesthetic, commonly used by vets, is increasing among UK clubbers, a new survey has found.
Research conducted by Druglink magazine found that ketamine was now on sale in eight UK cities, including London, Manchester, Belfast and Birmingham, out of the 15 surveyed.
The drug, which is known by a variety of nicknames, such as ‘K’, ‘Ket’ and ‘Special K’, was initially popular on the gay club scene. Druglink editor, Harry Shapiro described the emergence of ketamine on the club scene as “an entirely new phenomenon”, since it did not feature on last year’s survey by the magazine.
Ketamine users report feelings of euphoria and may experience hallucinations. However, other effects include numbness, loss of co-ordination, slurred speech and the inability to feel pain. Large doses can also cause vomiting and convulsions.
Ketamine is currently legal, but the Home Office is planning to make it a Class C drug by the end of the year.
The survey also found that the price of ecstasy has also dropped dramatically. Ecstasy pills could now be purchased for as little as 50p in Portsmouth, the survey found, half the price of the previous year’s lowest cost, which was found in Birmingham.
A drugs worker in Birmingham told Druglink: “Ecstasy pills contain less MDMA than they used to and so it is more of just a stimulant than something that alters your state of mind. People aged 18-25 are taking ketamine for a more trippy night out.”
The survey also found that the price of heroin had also halved in Sheffield, making it the cheapest in the UK at £25 per gram and reported that drug dealers were now offering ‘two for one’ deals on heroin and crack ‘party packs’, in order to attract new customers.
Druglink said that the survey, carried out among 40 frontline drug services in July 2005, provided the most up-to-date information on average UK street drug prices.
(KMcA/SP)
Research conducted by Druglink magazine found that ketamine was now on sale in eight UK cities, including London, Manchester, Belfast and Birmingham, out of the 15 surveyed.
The drug, which is known by a variety of nicknames, such as ‘K’, ‘Ket’ and ‘Special K’, was initially popular on the gay club scene. Druglink editor, Harry Shapiro described the emergence of ketamine on the club scene as “an entirely new phenomenon”, since it did not feature on last year’s survey by the magazine.
Ketamine users report feelings of euphoria and may experience hallucinations. However, other effects include numbness, loss of co-ordination, slurred speech and the inability to feel pain. Large doses can also cause vomiting and convulsions.
Ketamine is currently legal, but the Home Office is planning to make it a Class C drug by the end of the year.
The survey also found that the price of ecstasy has also dropped dramatically. Ecstasy pills could now be purchased for as little as 50p in Portsmouth, the survey found, half the price of the previous year’s lowest cost, which was found in Birmingham.
A drugs worker in Birmingham told Druglink: “Ecstasy pills contain less MDMA than they used to and so it is more of just a stimulant than something that alters your state of mind. People aged 18-25 are taking ketamine for a more trippy night out.”
The survey also found that the price of heroin had also halved in Sheffield, making it the cheapest in the UK at £25 per gram and reported that drug dealers were now offering ‘two for one’ deals on heroin and crack ‘party packs’, in order to attract new customers.
Druglink said that the survey, carried out among 40 frontline drug services in July 2005, provided the most up-to-date information on average UK street drug prices.
(KMcA/SP)
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