Ketamine use in a large global sample: Characteristics, patterns of use and emergency medical treatment.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) January 1, 2025 Karen P Barrios, Dean J Connolly, Jason A Ferris et al. 17 citations
Ketamine use has increased globally, particularly among young men, yet emergency medical treatment for its toxicity is rare and often linked to other substance use. Analysis of over 130,000 Global Drug Survey responses found that 5.93% had used ketamine in their lifetime, with 57.70% using it in the past year. Past-year users were typically younger (average age 24.84 years), gay, students, and used other drugs. Among 4,477 past-year users, 120 adverse events occurred, with less than 0.10% requiring emergency medical treatment. The findings indicate frequent use but low harm, highlighting the need for tailored harm reduction and comprehensive screening for substance dependence.