Ketamine: What are the 'acute effects' of the drug that killed Matthew Perry and has become the narcotic of choice for thousands of British youngsters?

It was revealed last night that Friends star Matthew Perry died from the 'acute effects' of the drug ketamine and drowning.

Mr Perry, 54, was found face-down in the hot tub which adjoins the swimming pool at his Los Angeles home at 4.17pm on October 28. 

His autopsy revealed that he had similar quantities of ketamine in his system as a hospital patient would have under a general anaesthetic.

And now, many people are asking what the 'acute effects' of ketamine are, what it is and why it has become a more popular drug amongst British youngsters in recent years.

What is ketamine?

Ketamine is a Class B drug that is used as an anesthetic for humans and animals, which informs one of its monikers, horse tranquiliser.

The narcotic is also known by users as ket, special K, super K and vitamin K, according to the government's anti-drug advisory service FRANK.

When used for legal medical purposes, ketamine is a clear liquid.

But it is usually sold by illegal drug dealers as a grainy white or light brown powder that looks similar to cocaine - but its effects are very different. It is less commonly sold in tablet form.

It has an unpleasant and bitter taste.

What are the 'acute effects' of ketamine?

Ketamine is a general anaesthetic so it reduces sensations in the body. And its effects can last for a couple of hours.

According to FRANK, users can feel dream-like and detached, chilled, relaxed and happy or confused and nauseated.

Ketamine can also alter your perception of time and space and cause hallucinations, stop users feeling pain, putting them at risk of hurting themselves without noticing.

If users use too much ketamine they can go into a 'k-hole', meaning they lose the ability to move. The 'scary experience' feels like an out of body experience that you cannot control.

If you take too much ketamine you may lose the ability to move and go into a 'k-hole'. This feels like your mind and body have separated and you can't to do anything about it – which can be a very scary experience.

Ketamine is a very powerful anesthetic that can cause serious harm or be fatal, particularly if it is mixed with other drugs.

It can increase heart rate and blood pressure. It can make you confused, agitated, delirious and disconnected from reality. It can make you feel sick, and it can cause damage to your short- and long-term memory.

Symptoms of a ketamine overdose can include sedation or decreased consciousness, respiratory depression (slowed breathing), periods of stopped breathing (apnea), low blood pressure, slow heart rate, cardiac arrest, seizure, stupor and coma, according to American Addiction Centres.

Matthew Perry had been receiving ketamine infusion therapy as treatment for depression, the medical examiner reported - but the last session was a week and a half before he died, and the ketamine is only in your system for three to four hours, which means it did not lead directly to his death.

'At the high levels of ketamine found in his postmortem blood specimens, the main lethal effects would be from both cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression,' the medical examiner, Raffi Djabourian, concluded.

What are the long term effects of ketamine? 

Long term effects of regular ketamine use can cause agitation, panic attacks, damage to short- and long-term memory and depression, if taken frequently.

There is also emerging evidence that regular and heavy ketamine use can cause liver damage. The liver has a range of important functions, such as cleaning your blood and removing toxic substances.

Long term use can also carries risks to mental health including flashback,s memory loss and problems with concentration.

Regular use can can cause depression and, occasionally, psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations. Ketamine can also worsen existing mental health problems.

Ketamine can also be addictive, with regular users having the possibility of developing a tolerance, meaning they need to take more to get the same effect they want.

There are no physical withdrawal symptoms with ketamine, so ketamine addiction is sometimes called a psychological dependence.

Is ketamine illegal in the UK?

Ketamine is a Class B drug in the UK which means it's illegal to possess, give away or sell.

Possession can come with a sentence of up to five years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

Supplying the drug to someone else can get you up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

Like drink-driving, driving when high is dangerous and illegal. If you're caught driving under the influence, you may receive a heavy fine, driving ban, or prison sentence.

If the police catch people supplying illegal drugs in a home, club, bar or hostel, they can potentially prosecute the landlord, club owner or any other person concerned in the management of the premises.

Why has ketamine become more used in the UK?

Record amounts of ketamine were seized by police and border forces in the UK in the year to March 2022, rising by nearly 900 per cent from 208kg to 1,837kg.

The usage is also on the rise, with one in 20 young people admitting to having taken ketamine, according to TimeOut.

It is most popular in the cities of Manchester and Bristol, with London also being one of the top spots.

While ketamine has a two-decades long history as part of rave and clubbing culture, its usage has significantly changed since the pandemic.

It used to be used as a drug to take at the end of a night out, but because during lockdown, people were looking for mind-altering experiences that were not an 'upper', they turned to the tranquilising effects of ketamine, an expert claimed.

Adam Waugh, of drug charity The Loop told TimeOut that ketamine is 'an anesthetic drug so it knocks people into a dissociative state' which 'could be desirable at home'.

The drug is also significantly cheaper than other drugs used in the rave scene, at around £20 a gram compared to £40 a gram for MDMA and £100 for cocaine.