Ketamine has a huge presence on the UK’s recreational drug scene, having spent the last two decades rising to prominence from relative obscurity. As a party drug, it is widely taken and has a whole host of negative health and social ramifications attached. Plenty of bad press has built up around it as a result.

What’s less widely discussed is how ketamine also has legitimate clinical applications. So in that sense, it shares the same status as counterparts like marijuana, in that there’s a perception gap between how it’s used illegally and how it should be used medically.

With that in mind, here’s the lowdown on ketamine’s current image problem, and what this means for people prescribed it through above-board channels.

The Dark Side of Ketamine Use

Non-prescribed ketamine use, particularly among young people aged 16 to 24, has ramped up significantly. Official government figures show that over 264,000 people took it recreationally last year, while the number of people seeking support for ketamine dependence and addiction increased by a factor of 12.

Its status as a meme is partly possible because it’s a Class B substance, and so doesn’t get treated with the same severity as Class A drugs like heroin and ecstasy. With milder punishments metered out to those caught using or supplying it, there’s less incentive to avoid it.

Campaigners against ketamine’s proliferation argue this is a problem because the adverse, long-term effects cannot be ignored. Damage to the digestive system and bladder, as well as associated increased anxiety, deserves attention. That’s why ketamine detox treatments must be so all-encompassing and comprehensive; recreational users end up with multifaceted health issues and withdrawal symptoms that require careful management.

The Medical Benefits

The dangers of ketamine when used outside of a prescription deserve attention, but the upsides of its medical application must also be highlighted. Specifically, humans with treatment-resistant forms of depression may find that this drug is one of the few substances capable of alleviating the worst aspects of their condition.

So, the authorities have a narrow path to tread. Calls for ketamine to be reclassified and for additional public education campaigns to be launched as a counterpoint to its increased recreational use hold water. Likewise, raising awareness of its clinical advantages for those with specific, serious mental health conditions is also important, as an overly tarnished reputation might put off patients who genuinely need it for its medical properties.

The Next Steps

A combination of ongoing clinical trials, academic research, and government consultations should eventually lead to a bit more clarity on the issue of ketamine in the UK. Ideally, this will result in its meme status and party drug reputation being put out to pasture, while simultaneously encouraging the public to consider its legitimate uses when prescribed by a professional as something to be celebrated, rather than a shameful secret.

As with any public health talking point, all this takes time. The quest to reframe ketamine in the collective national consciousness will take years, not weeks.