Also known as:

• K
• Special K
• Vitamin K

What is ketamine?

Ketamine is an anaesthetic drug in liquid form that's cooked and made into a powder, sometimes cut with other drugs. It's sometimes referred to as a horse tranquiliser. Doctors also used ketamine on people, but less so today due to its side-effect of hallucinations.

The powder is snorted, which is known as taking a 'bump'. It may also be swallowed in a drink (but not alcohol) or mixed with water and injected. If snorted, the effects usually last around 45 to 90 minutes. If injected (into muscle, never a vein) or swallowed, effects can last up to three hours.

It's sometimes smoked (the powder is mixed with tobacco or cannabis).

K can also come in a pill.

What's the attraction?

Ketamine is taken on the club scene for its hallucinogenic effects and how it causes feelings of:

• euphoria
• numbness
• being cut off from the body
• changed sense of time and distance
• increased energy (in smaller doses)
• floating or dream-like state.

Some users talk of ‘out of body’, almost spiritual experiences or of entering a different reality, travelling through tunnels or meeting aliens or God.

Ketamine is often taken with other drugs to enhance their effects.

Ketamine and sex

K can make the user feel horny. Some report that K makes it harder to come or get an erection. How a sex partner looks or feels can alter. As the drug numbs the body, sex may go on longer and lead to damage, especially internal injury during arse play.

K is used by some fisters to relax the arse muscles. Reduced ability to feel pain can lead to bleeding or abrasions during sex that isn't noticed but that can help pass on HIV, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

K can lower inhibitions, leading to poor decisions, for example about safer sex.

Sex on K is different for each user and changes according to their mood. It's been called weird, disorientating, frustrating and wonderful.