What It Is: Ketamine hydrochloride is a quick-acting anesthetic that is legally used in both humans (as a sedative for minor surgery) and animals (as a tranquilizer). At high doses, it causes intoxication and hallucinations similar to LSD. Sometimes Called: K, Special K, vitamin K, bump, cat Valium, Kit Kat, Super acid, Purple How It's Used: In different forms, ketamine can be snorted, swallowed, smoked, or injected. Users often use it along with other drugs such as Ecstasy (called kitty flipping) or cocaine or sprinkle it on marijuana blunts. What It Does: People who use ketamine can become psychologically dependent on it to feel good, deal with life, or handle stress. Users may become delirious, hallucinate, and lose their sense of time and reality. The trip — or K-hole — that results from ketamine use lasts up to 2 hours. Users may become nauseated or vomit, and have problems with thinking or memory. At higher doses, ketamine causes movement problems, body numbness, and slowed breathing. Overdosing on ketamine can stop breathing and cause death. Back to Articles Related Articles What You Need to Know About Drugs Drugs are chemicals that change the way a person's body works. Some drugs help you feel better, but drugs also can harm you. Learn more in this article for kids. Read More Dealing With Addiction Find out what you can do if you think you or a friend has a drug or alcohol addiction - from recognizing the warning signs to suggestions to help you stay clean. Read More Drugs: What to Know It's not hard to find drugs, and sometimes it may seem like everyone's doing them or wanting you to do them. But there are downsides (and dangers) to taking drugs. Read More Dealing With Peer Pressure Did you ever feel like another kid was trying to get you to do something you didn't want to do? If so, you've felt peer pressure. Find out more in this article for kids. Read More Drugs: What Parents Need to Know Knowing what drugs are out there, what they can do, and how they can affect someone is the first step in raising drug-free kids. Read More Talking to Your Child About Drugs Just as you inoculate your kids against illnesses like measles, you can help "immunize" them against drug use by giving them the facts now. Read More Depressants: What Parents Need to Know Depressants calm and relax nerves. But if used in the wrong way, they can be dangerous and even cause life-threatening problems. Read More Cocaine & Crack: What Parents Need to Know Cocaine and crack are illegal drugs that produce an intense high and can cause a stroke, heart attack, or even death. Read More Amphetamines: What Parents Need to Know Amphetamines (including prescription diet pills) are highly addictive stimulants that accelerate functions in the brain and body. Read More Ecstasy: What Parents Need to Know Ecstasy is a dangerous illegal drug that can cause hallucinations and even death. Read More GHB: What Parents Need to Know GHB, gamma hydroxybutyrate, is a popular club and date rape drug that can be deadly. Read More Heroin: What Parents Need to Know Heroin is a highly addictive, illegal narcotic that can cause death when taken in excess. Read More Marijuana: What Parents Need to Know Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the United States. Read More Inhalants: What Parents Need to Know Inhalants like glue are sniffed or huffed to give the user a high. Just doing it one time can be fatal. Read More LSD: What Parents Need to Know LSD is a dangerous hallucinogenic drug that affects mood, judgment, and behavior. Read More Methamphetamines: What Parents Need to Know Methamphetamines are dangerous stimulants that speed up a person's heart rate and bodily functions. When used in large doses, meth can kill. Read More Rohypnol: What Parents Need to Know Rohypnol is an antianxiety medication. Because it can cause extreme drowsiness (or "blackouts"), the drug is often used in date rapes. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.