First injection of ketamine among young injection drug users (IDUs) in three U.S. cities.
Stephen E Lankenau, Bill Sanders, Jennifer Jackson Bloom, Dodi Hathazi, Erica Alarcon, Stephanie Tortu, Michael C Clatts
Drug and Alcohol Dependence September 18, 2006 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.08.015 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 213 |
| Population | Young injection drug users aged 16-28 years recruited in New York, New Orleans, and Los Angeles |
| Topics | Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Humans Substance-related disorders Substance abuse, intravenous Analgesics Injections, intramuscular Injections, intravenous Injections, subcutaneous Sample size Sexuality Needle sharing Socioeconomic factors Adolescent Adult Urban population Female Interviews as topic Ethnicity |
| Key findings | Ketamine injection among young injection drug users typically involved those with extensive polydrug histories, though some initiated injection with ketamine, often intramuscularly. First injections commonly occurred in private homes with shared paraphernalia, particularly pharmaceutical liquid ketamine vials, leading the authors to argue that ketamine should be included in risk-reduction messages for young injection drug users. |
Abstract
Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, has emerged as an increasingly common drug among subgroups of young injection drug users (IDUs) in cities across the United States. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 213 young IDUs aged 16-28 years recruited in New York, New Orleans, and Los Angeles between 2004 and 2006. While some initiated injection drug use with ketamine, the drug was more frequently injected by IDUs with extensive polydrug using histories. IDUs initiating with ketamine commonly self-injected via an intramuscular mode of administration. The injection group provided crucial knowledge and material resources that enabled the injection event to occur, including ketamine, syringes, and injection skills. Injection paraphernalia was commonly shared during the first injection of ketamine, particularly vials of pharmaceutically-packaged liquid ketamine. Injection events infrequently occurred in a rave or club and more typically in a private home, which challenges ketamine's designation as a 'club' drug. The first injection of ketamine was a noteworthy event since it introduced a novel drug or new mode of administration to be further explored by some, or exposed others to a drug to be avoided in the future. Risk reduction messages directed towards young IDUs should be expanded to include ketamine.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on ketamine, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Recreational Ketamine Use among Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder: Demographics, Motivations, and Polysubstance Use. Substance Use & Misuse May 1, 2025
- Samm50 Downregulation-Driven Mitochondrial Dysfunction Triggers Ferroptosis and Contributes to Ketamine-Induced Neurotoxicity and Cognitive Impairment. Neuropharmacology September 18, 2026
- Towards an Explanation of Subjective Ketamine Experiences among Young Injection Drug Users. Addiction Research & Theory 2008
- "Research chemicals": tryptamine and phenethylamine use among high-risk youth. Substance Use & Misuse 2008