Rising incidence of recreational ketamine use: Clinical cases and management in emergency settings.
Toxicology reports June 1, 2025 Sabrina Marongiu, Maarten van Eijk, Femke M J Gresnigt et al. 9 citations
Recreational ketamine use has risen sharply in the Netherlands, especially among young adults in nightlife settings, leading to more first aid incidents often involving combinations with alcohol or MDMA that increase toxicity. Acute intoxication causes agitation, hallucinations, nausea, tachycardia, and hypertension; frequent use can lead to long-term complications like ketamine-induced uropathy. Although ketamine is not currently part of standard toxicological screenings, including it could help diagnose mixed intoxications, rule out other causes, and support referrals to follow-up care, improving diagnostic accuracy and addressing health risks from its growing prevalence.