Australian Authorities Outlaw Ketamine

Government officials in New South Wales have banned ketamine, after officials claimed ravers and clubbers are increasingly using the drug.

The short acting anaesthetic (usually known as 'K') is widely used in hospitals throughout the world (under the brand name Ketalar) and remains uncontrolled in most countries (including the UK) though was also outlawed in the States in 1997, where it remains classed as a 'club drug' by the DEA (US Drug Enforcement Agency).

The drug was invented in 1962 by American pharmacist Calvin L Stevens and was originally called C1581, and ironically was approved by the FDA (US Food & Drug Administration) for use in children, the elderly and animals in 1970. It was later used in the Vietnam War as a 'buddy drug' by G.I.s, since soldiers could inject wounded buddies knowing that they will probably not stop breathing, and continues to be used in this way in places like Afghanistan, according to Dr Karl Jansen (writing in his seminal book on K: Ketamine: Dreams & Realities). However, chatting to Skrufff last year, Dr Jansen admitted he was puzzled by its association with club culture.

"I don't think it's a suitable drug for a dance context because it does make it difficult to walk and talk," said Dr Jansen.

"It's always had a non-medical recreational following in people's own homes ever since it was invented in the early 70s, though its use in a dance content is somewhat harder to understand. Because using it really does make you collapse."

'Karl Jansen's book Ketamine, Dreams, and Realities is a goldmine of information on this fascinating substance that combines in a unique way the properties of an anesthetic and a psychedelic...' US$14.95).
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