NEWS from the United Nations and CADCA (The following is an excerpt from a CADCA article published on November 13, 2008)

A drug used to tranquillize horses, called ketamine, is gaining popularity within the dance scene in a number of countries throughout the world, according to a recent report by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, which warned that long-term use of ketamine use can have serious effects on the brain, the kidneys and internal organs.

Nicknamed Special K, ketamine can be taken in powder, liquid or tablet form but is often mixed with other drugs or alcohol. Sometimes ketamine is laced with synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine and then sold as ecstasy because it commands a higher price than straight ketamine.

Sources refer to it as new candy for the youth. This drug is an anaesthetic and can induce a catatonic state. Long term use impairs memory and cognitive functions, and damage to the kidneys and internal organs will occur. Unfortunately, the use of Special K is growing both in developing countries and in the west.