News
Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13, 1999
DEA
TO CONTROL "SPECIAL K" FOR THE FIRST TIME
On Tuesday, July
13, 1999, DEA published a final rule in the Federal Register that will
make Ketamine, commonly known on the street as "Special K," a controlled
substance for the first time effective August 12 of this year. This action
is being taken in response to documented diversion and growing abuse of
this drug, and a recommendation from Health and Human Services (HHS) that
Ketamine be placed in Schedule III. The American Animal Hospital Association,
the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association
of Equine Practitioners, the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association,
individual veterinarians and Fort Dodge Animal Health, a manufacturer
of veterinary Ketamine products, are on record supporting DEA's move.
Ketamine has been
marketed in the U.S. as a rapidly acting general anesthetic used in both
human and veterinary practice since 1971. Chemically, it is related to
PCP which is a Schedule II drug. The effects produced with Ketamine use
are similar, although less intense and shorter in duration than those
of LSD or PCP.
Since 1992 DEA has
received more than 500 reports of the sale and/or use of the drug in schools
by minors, on college campuses, at night clubs and rave dances. Ketamine
use has been associated with incidents of public intoxication and improper
operation of motor vehicles while individuals are under the influence
of Ketamine. Burglaries of veterinary clinics have been the primary source
of Ketamine. The sale of Ketamine as a drug of abuse to undercover police
has also been recorded. In addition, the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN)
recorded 207 Ketamine related hospital emergency room episodes during
the same period.
"In the seventies
and eighties there were very few cases of Ketamine theft and abuse. Since
1992, we have seen an alarming increase in the abuse of so-called "party"
drugs such as Ketamine. This is of grave concern to DEA and we are moving
to discourage the diversion and abuse of Ketamine by placing it in Schedule
III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and ensuring that proper regulatory,
civil and criminal controls apply," according to Special Agent Donnie
Marshall, DEA Acting Administrator.
"Alcohol, cocaine,
and marijuana are often used in combination with Ketamine according to
DAWN reports. When abused, Ketamine produces a dose-related progression
of effects from a state of dreamy intoxication to delirium accompanied
by the inability to move, feel pain or remember what has occurred while
the user was under the drug's influence. The "Special K" trip is similar
to that of LSD or PCP but lasts only 30 to 60 minutes as opposed to several
hours. And although to date there has been only one documented case nationwide
in which Ketamine was used to facilitate rape, it has the same potential
as Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol or 'roofies') and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB),"
he added.
To date sixteen states
(California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois,
Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New
York, Oklahoma and Wisconsin) have placed Ketamine into Schedule III.
Missouri and Tennessee have placed the drug in Schedule IV and Massachusetts
made it a Class A drug. Effective August 12 federal law will place Ketamine
in Schedule III.
For Additional
Information, Contact:
Terry Parham, Acting Chief, Public Affairs
(202) 307-7977
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