KETAMINE, ECSTASY OFFER SYNTHESIZED HEALTH RISKS

Ketamine is an anesthetic that is abused for its hallucinogenic
properties. It is legally used in veterinary medicine usually as a
tranquilizer for animals. Abuse of the drug gained popularity when
users discovered that it produced effects similar to those associated
with PCP.

Ketamine has been used by sexual predators to incapacitate their
intended victims.

Ketamine is generally sold as either a colourless, odorless liquid or
as an off-white powder.

In either its powder or liquid forms ketamine is mixed with beverages
or added to smokable materials such as marijuana or tobacco. As a
powder the drug is snorted or pressed into tablets -often in
combination with ecstasy.

Ketamine causes users to have distorted perceptions of sight and sound
and to feel disconnected and out of control. Users also have a very
high tolerance for pain and have increased strength. This symptom is
of great concern to law enforcement when dealing with clients under
the influence of Ketamine.

Ketamine can cause depression, delirium, amnesia, impaired motor
function, high blood pressure and potentially fatal respiratory problems.

Street names for Ketamine include Special K, K, cat valium and Kit
Kat.

MDMA (Ecstasy) is also known as the 'hug drug' due to its euphoric
effects. Ecstasy gives the user a generalized feeling of peace and
happiness, emotional closeness to others and sensory enhancement such
as touch, taste and smell.

The downside to the use of ecstasy are confusion, anxiety, panic
attacks, disorientation, delusions, lapses in memory, liver damage,
kidney failure, convulsions, coma, stroke, paranoia and suicide.

Using MDMA (Ecstasy) may result in death; however, permanent brain
damage is more prevalent amongst users.

MDMA use is wide-spread amongst youth. Analyses in B.C. have found
that the tablets being sold to youth as Ecstasy are in fact pure MDMA
less that 50 per cent of the time.

Commonly the analysis reveals that the tablets are a combination of
drugs namely methamphetamine, ketamine, PCP, LSD, codeine and
caffeine, just to name of few. This creates a false sense of security
for the user who believes they are ingesting Ecstasy.

Const. Beth Blackburn is the Drug Awareness Coordinator for the RCMP
in Central Vancouver Island.