A white crystal sample expected to contain ketamine was found to contain both ketamine and methamphetamine.

What does this mean? Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic, while methamphetamine is a stimulant. If you were expecting to consume only ketamine, the presence of methamphetamine means the effects could be different from what you anticipated. Stimulants can increase heart rate, blood pressure and alertness, whereas ketamine causes dissociation and mild cardiovascular stimulation. The combination of these two drugs may lead to an unpredictable experience, especially if you’re unaware of the stimulant content.

Effects. Unexpected methamphetamine consumption may alter the effects you were expecting from ketamine. Since ketamine’s effects tend to last 1-2 hours, but methamphetamine can last much longer (4-12 hrs), you may feel unexpectedly alert, restless, or unable to sleep. This could lead to redosing, thinking the ketamine has worn off when in reality, methamphetamine is still active.

Reducing the harm

Test your stuff. While it’s not unusual for CanTEST to see ketamine adulterated with small amounts of methamphetamine or other stimulants, the amount in this sample had the potential to cause greater harm. Always try a test dose first and never use alone.

Start low and go slow. Try a test dose first and never use alone.

Know the signs. Signs to be aware of include an unusually fast heart rate, agitation, difficulty sleeping, overheating, or anxiety. If you or someone else experiences severe symptoms like chest pain, confusion, a sudden headache or signs of a stimulant overdose – seek medical help immediately by calling 000.