Ketamine Overdoses On The Rise

In 2023, Florida authorities started noticing the presence of ketamine in many drug cases, particularly as an ingredient in ‘cut’ drugs. Usage has only increased since then, particularly since ketamine has been identified as a viable treatment for some kinds of depression, but abuse of the drug is sadly on the rise according to Florida medical examiners.

Dangers Not Well Understood

Ketamine is known as a “dissociative anesthetic” primarily, used in surgery-related pain management. However, there has been significant testing on ketamine as a treatment for certain types of depression, and because of its potential for abuse, it also has a reputation as a ‘party drug.’ Low doses can put a user into a “K-hole,” which is essentially a voluntary dissociative episode that induces a ‘dreamlike’ state.

While ketamine has genuine medical uses, it can also be dangerous. A notable fact about ketamine is that it tends to amplify the effects of any other drug it encounters. So, for example, if a person purchases an opioid, drugs of that class are commonly ‘cut’ with something. If that ‘something’ is ketamine, the effects of the opioid are amplified, the danger to the user may be far greater than they realize.

Not An Opioid

In addition to its other dangers, the presence of ketamine when purchasing street drugs can get a person in serious legal trouble. If you have been charged with a ketamine-related offense, it is important to keep in mind that ketamine is not an opioid, meaning that Narcan will not work in reversing an overdose – which can, in rare cases, place a ketamine user on the hook for murder if they share their drugs and a person overdoses.

As with most other drugs, possession or trafficking in ketamine is taken very seriously in Florida. It is a Schedule III drug, meaning that possession without a prescription will be a serious offense – depending on how much a person is found to unlawfully possess, this may mean anything from a third-degree to a capital felony. It is crucial to have the right legal help on your side, in order to protect your rights during the legal process.

Call A West Palm Beach Drug Offenses Attorney

If you have been charged with possession, sale, or trafficking in ketamine, it is important to act fast. A West Palm Beach drug offenses attorney at Perlet & Shiner, P.A. will help guide you through the criminal process – call our office today to speak to an attorney.

Source:

drugs.com/ketamine.html