The illicit supply and use of ketamine, a dissociative aesthetic used in medicine but not under international control, is on the rise. Traditionally concentrated in East and Southeast Asia, non-medical ketamine use is now expanding into new markets in Western and Central Europe, Oceania, and North America, says World Drug Report 2024 by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
RISING KETAMINE TRAFFICKING
Illicitly produced ketamine for the non-medical market can take various forms. Recently, it has been marketed in sensory-attractive mixtures and concoctions such as “pink cocaine,” “tucibi,” or “happy water.” Several ketamine analogues, used as substitutes for ketamine, have been reported in East and Southeast Asia and Oceania, raising new concerns.
Global seizures ofketamine reached a record high in 2022, with a 70% increase compared to 2021 in East and Southeast Asia. Notable increases were also observed in other regions, illustrating the geographical diversification in ketamine trafficking. Significant increases in seizures were reported in North America, the Near and Middle East/South-West Asia, Western and Central Europe, Southern Africa, the Caribbean, and Southeastern Europe.
INCREASING KETAMINE CONSUMPTION
Ketamine consumption is rising in Western and Central Europe, where a rise in ketamine loads in wastewater was observed in 12 out of 15 monitored cities in 2022 and 2023. Non-medical use of ketamine can lead to substantial health harms and ketamine use disorders, especially in chronic users. Some countries in the region have reported increased treatment requests related to ketamine. The overall number of treatment requests related to ketamine doubled between 2017 and 2021, although it remains below the number of persons treated for controlled drugs such as cannabis, opioids, cocaine, and amphetamines. In the United Kingdom and Australia, ketamine use has been increasing, especially among young people.
MIXED TRENDS IN EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
In East and Southeast Asia, expert perceptions of non-medicalketamine use are mixed. Increases were reported in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, and Singapore, while decreases were reported in Thailand, China, and Hong Kong in 2022. There is also growing evidence that non-medicalketamine use may be increasing in Japan and the Republic of Korea.
The global rise in illicit ketamine use and trafficking poses significant health risks and illustrates the changing landscape of drug markets. The diversification in trafficking routes and the increase in non-medical use highlight the need for comprehensive monitoring and adaptive strategies to address this growing issue.
