Ketamine use in a large global sample: Characteristics, patterns of use and emergency medical treatment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ketamine's popularity has surged globally in the past decade, especially among young men. Emergency department visits due to its toxicity remain relatively rare, often linked to co-occurring use of other substances.

Aims

Using data from the Global Drug Survey (GDS) 2018, this study explored the correlates associated with lifetime and past-year ketamine use, and estimated the socio-demographic characteristics, usage patterns and experiences of respondents seeking emergency medical treatment (EMT) after ketamine use.

Methods

Secondary analysis of GDS 2018, an online cross-sectional survey on drug use patterns conducted between November 2017 and January 2018.

Results

The survey received 130,761 valid responses, with 5.93% reporting lifetime ketamine use

SUBMITTER: Barrios KP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11760648 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature