Patterns of polydrug use among ketamine injectors in New York City.
Stephen E Lankenau, Michael C Clatts
Substance Use & Misuse 2005 DOI: 10.1081/ja-200066936 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Ethno-epidemiological qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 40 |
| Population | Young ketamine injectors under 25 years old in New York |
| Interventions | Ketamine marijuana alcohol PCP speed |
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine |
| Key findings | Ketamine was typically injected or sniffed during polydrug-using events, most commonly with marijuana, alcohol, PCP, and speed. The sequencing of drug use, drug combinations, drug forms, and routes of administration varied widely across events. The authors argue that future research should more comprehensively describe risks of combining ketamine with other drugs, including overdose, bloodborne pathogen transmission such as HIV and HCV, and cognitive effects. |
Abstract
Polydrug use is an important public health issue since it has been linked to significant adverse health outcomes. Recently, club drugs, including ketamine and other drugs used in dance/rave scenes, have been identified as key substances in new types of polydrug using patterns. While seemingly a self-explanatory concept, "polydrug" use constitutes multiple drug using practices that may impact upon health risks. Ketamine, a club drug commonly administered intranasally among youth for its disassociative properties, has emerged as a drug increasingly prevalent among a new hidden population of injection drug users (IDUs). Using an ethno-epidemiological methodology, we interviewed 40 young (<25 years old) ketamine injectors in New York during 2000-2002 to describe the potential health risks associated with ketamine and polydrug use. Findings indicate that ketamine was typically injected or sniffed in the context of a polydrug using event. Marijuana, alcohol, PCP, and speed were among the most commonly used drugs during recent ketamine using events. Polydrug using events were often quite variable regarding the sequencing of drug use, the drug combinations consumed, the forms of the drug utilized, and the modes of administrating the drug combinations. Future research should be directed towards developing a more comprehensive description of the risks associated with combining ketamine with other drugs, such as drug overdoses, the transmission of bloodborne pathogens, such as HIV and HCV, the short- and long-term effects of drug combinations on cognitive functioning, and other unanticipated consequences associated with polydrug use.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on ketamine, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- Self-reported prevalence of dependence of MDMA compared to cocaine, mephedrone and ketamine among a sample of recreational poly-drug users International Journal of Drug Policy July 15, 2014
- Trends and characteristics in ketamine use among US adults with and without depression, 2015-2022. Journal of Affective Disorders March 15, 2025
- Recreational Ketamine Use among Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder: Demographics, Motivations, and Polysubstance Use. Substance Use & Misuse May 1, 2025
- Effects of ketamine enantiomers on morphine and THC subjective effects in rats. Journal of Psychopharmacology December 26, 2025
- The effects of ketamine and methamphetamine on neurotransmitters, glutamate receptors, and conditioned place preference in rat. Legal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) November 2023
and 4 more in the library
Cites 3
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