Trends in ketamine use among nightclub attendees in New York City, 2017-2024.

Ketamine use is rising sharply among nightclub attendees in New York City. From 2017 to 2024, lifetime use increased by 36.7% (from 16.6% to 22.7%), past-year use by 94.0% (from 7.4% to 14.3%), and past-month use by 118.1% (from 3.1% to 6.8%). The largest increases in past-month use occurred among people aged 26 or older (up 222.0%), females (up 216.6%), those with a college degree (up 161.0%), bisexual or other sexuality individuals (up 445.0%), and those who also used cocaine, ecstasy/MDMA, or LSD in the past month. Identifying as gay or lesbian and past-month cocaine use were strongly associated with higher odds of past-month ketamine use. The authors suggest that prevention and harm reduction efforts should be increased.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Ketamine-related poisonings and law enforcement seizures have been increasing in the United States, but population surveys suggest that recreational use has been rare with trends being relatively stable. This study aimed to estimate trends and correlates of use among nightclub attendees-a population known for high prevalence of party drug use. Adults entering randomly selected nightclubs in New York City were surveyed in 2017 (n = 674), 2018 (n = 724), 2019 (n = 541), 2021 (n = 160), 2022 (n = 322), and 2024 (n = 911) (total N = 3332; 56.3 % male, 52.7 % age ≥26). Trends in lifetime, past-year, and past-month ketamine use were estimated using logistic regression, and correlates and trends in characteristics of people who used in the past month were also estimated. Between 2017 and 2024, lifetime ketamine use increased from 16.6 % to 22.7 % (a 36.7 % increase), past-year use increased from 7.4 % to 14.3 % (a 94.0 % increase), and past-month use increased from 3.1 % to 6.8 % (an 118.1 % increase, Ps<0.001). Past-month use particularly increased among those aged ≥26 (by 222.0 %), females (by 216.6 %), those with a college degree (by 161.0 %), and among people who identify as bisexual or "other" sexuality (by 445.0 %), and among those who used cocaine (by 213.8 %), ecstasy/MDMA (by 94.9 %), and/or LSD (238.2 %) in the past month (Ps<0.01). Identifying as gay/lesbian (aOR=2.03, 95 % CI: 1.19-3.48) and past-month use of cocaine (aOR=8.17, 95 % CI: 4.97-13.43) in particular were associated with increased odds for past-month use. Recreational ketamine use is increasing among this population so an increased focus on both prevention and harm reduction is needed.