Ketamine is an interesting drug that the average person probably isn’t going to want to touch on the average day. It’s a street drug that can induce hallucinations and act as both a stimulant and a depressant at the same time. It has certain anesthetic qualities to it that make it useful in the operating room. The World Health Organization even has it on its list of essential medicines. When used properly, it can do good things. Many just don’t use it properly today. Here are some interesting facts about this drug.
1. It Creates a Fantasy World
The reason why ketamine is so popular as a street drug is because in high doses, it creates a dissociative world that is a lot like a dream state. The world seems tangible and real, but the experiences in that world are all in the head. When people enter this dream state in a habitual way, the false reality can begin to have more importance and be more meaningful for people than the experiences that occur in real life.
2. It Hurts the Bladder
One of the best reasons to not take ketamine in street doses is that it can do a lot of damage to the bladder. It’s usually seen in long term use, but it can happen after a few doses as well. The drug can cause ulcers to form within the bladder, stiffen the walls of the bladder, and force someone to urinate more than 100 times per day. It can also cause blood to be in the urine and cause extreme amounts of pain in the pelvic region.
3. The Military Used It Often
Ketamine was the most common field anesthetic that was used by the US military during the Vietnam War. That’s how effective this drug can do its job. That’s also why taking the doses that are large enough to create a dissociative environment are so dangerous. It blocks the brain from receiving any sensory input and so perceptions are brought in to fill the void of sensory deprivation.
4. It’s Often Used in Veterinary Medicine
One of the most common uses for ketamine today is in the veterinarian sciences. It is popular because it is effective on many different types of animals. Chimps and frogs, for example, have a similar therapeutic reaction when they are given this drug. Because it is so widely used by veterinarians, however, it becomes very easy for someone in the community to get their hands on the drug to use it for recreational purposes.
Ketamine is an essential drug, but it can be abused in a recreational way and harm human health in the process. Avoid using it on a long-term basis, take it under a doctor’s care, and the negative effects of this drug can be greatly reduced.