Urgent Help

Is this an emergency?

Are you or others in danger? Do you need an ambulance or the police?

24 hour phone line for crisis support and suicide prevention.

24 hour phone line. A free counselling service for young people across Australia aged between 5-25 years.

24 hour phone line for support, information and advice.

Drug Facts & info

Drug facts & info

Ketamine

Share

Print + Download

Ketamine was originally designed as an anaesthetic and is still sometimes used for this purpose in hospitals. Ketamine tends to come as a liquid but can also be cooked down to a powder for snorting. It can be snorted, swallowed or injected.

OTHER NAMES:

K, Special K, ket, kitkat, super K or wobble.

FACTS TO KNOW:

Ketamine can make people feel ‘floaty’ and disconnected from reality.
Some people experience euphoria, and increased heart rate and visual hallucinations.
Ketamine can also make people have slurred speech, loss of coordination and motor skills.
The term ‘K-Hole’ is used in when a large dose is used that cause’s intense mind-body dissociation.
Large doses or mixing with depressants can cause difficulty breathing, seizures, or inability to be roused or woken.
An ambulance should be called if anything like this happens to you or someone else.

DURATION

The effects of Ketamine can last for 1-2 hours.
Onset of effects are within 5-15 minutes.
The peak of the effects can usually be felt within 20-60 minutes.

STAYING AS SAFE AS YOU CAN:

Avoid taking other drugs when using ketamine, especially depressants like alcohol, benzos or GHB
Start small and assess its strength and your sensitivity
Wait at least 2 hours to re-dose.
Never use alone
Use in a safe environment with people you trust and someone experienced or sober.

This is only a little bit of information check out Harm Reduction Victoria’s fact sheet for heaps more info.

Want to know more or worried about your use?

Give YoDAA a call.

Get help now

YoDAA is a free and confidential online and phone service that offers supports to young people, families and professionals. You can contact 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday.

Further Reading

Looking after yourself when you’re using

Staying as safe as you can

Understanding why I use

What is psychosis? | headspace

Anxiety | What is Anxiety & The Effects in Young People | headspace

How does alcohol affect mental health | headspace

Early Psychosis Program | headspace

Related Articles

Not sure what I want to do

Single Session Family Consultation [SSFC]

YoDAA can provide a neutral, confidential space led by professionals who understand the challenges families face. Their role is to support healthier communication—not to judge or take sides. Sometimes one good conversation is enough to shift things in a better direction.

YoDAA can provide a neutral, confidential space led by professionals who understand the challenges families face. Their role is to support healthier communication—not to judge or take sides. Sometimes one good conversation is…

Duty of Care

If we become concerned about your safety (or anyone else’s) during a chat or phone session or because of the contents of an email, we will always do our best to make sure you and/or others are safe.

If we become concerned about your safety (or anyone else’s) during a chat or phone session or because of the contents of an email, we will always do our best to…

Not sure what I want to do

Top tips for staying safe

Staying safe is the most important thing. That starts with knowing what you are taking! Ask and research everything you can about a drug. Do your research. Where possible, know what you are taking, What are its effects, how long will they last, does it have side effects?

Staying safe is the most important thing. That starts with knowing what you are taking! Ask and research everything you can about a drug. Do your research. Where possible, know what…

Not sure what I want to do

Reasons drugs can become a problem

There are many reasons drug or alcohol use can become a problem for someone but it’s always something more than just ‘bad luck’.

There are many reasons drug or alcohol use can become a problem for someone but it’s always something more than just ‘bad luck’.

Drug fact

Cocaine

Cocaine is a stimulant drug made from the leaves of the coca plant. It comes in a white powder. It speeds up the messages from your brain to your body and increases your heart and breathing rate. It’s mostly snorted but it can be injected.

Cocaine is a stimulant drug made from the leaves of the coca plant. It comes in a white powder. It speeds up the messages from your brain to your body…

Drug fact

Ecstasy

Ecstasy, or methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), is a stimulant drug. It’s often used at dance parties. Ecstasy comes as tablets or pills in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours. Pills are often imprinted with logos. It can also come as powder or even liquid.

Ecstasy, or methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), is a stimulant drug. It’s often used at dance parties. Ecstasy comes as tablets or pills in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours. Pills are…

Not sure what I want to do

Single Session Family Consultation [SSFC]

YoDAA can provide a neutral, confidential space led by professionals who understand the challenges families face. Their role is to support healthier communication—not to judge or take sides. Sometimes one good conversation is enough to shift things in a better direction.

YoDAA can provide a neutral, confidential space led by professionals who understand the challenges families face. Their role is to support healthier communication—not to judge or take sides. Sometimes one good conversation is…

Duty of Care

If we become concerned about your safety (or anyone else’s) during a chat or phone session or because of the contents of an email, we will always do our best to make sure you and/or others are safe.

If we become concerned about your safety (or anyone else’s) during a chat or phone session or because of the contents of an email, we will always do our best to…

Not sure what I want to do

Top tips for staying safe

Staying safe is the most important thing. That starts with knowing what you are taking! Ask and research everything you can about a drug. Do your research. Where possible, know what you are taking, What are its effects, how long will they last, does it have side effects?

Staying safe is the most important thing. That starts with knowing what you are taking! Ask and research everything you can about a drug. Do your research. Where possible, know what…