CDC Study: Illegal Ketamine Is Increasingly Involved in Overdose Deaths
A CDC report reveals a concerning trend: while ketamine remains a minor player in the landscape of drug overdose deaths, its presence is slowly rising, often alongside powerful substances like fentanyl and methamphetamine. From 2019 to mid-2023, overdose cases involving ketamine increased, underscoring the drug’s growing role in polysubstance fatalities. With ketamine use expanding both recreationally and medically, public health officials are urging closer attention to its risks—especially when mixed with other potent drugs.
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Key Findings:
- Prevalence: Ketamine appeared in less than 1% of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. from 2019 to 2023.
- Polysubstance Use: 82% of overdose deaths involving ketamine also included substances like fentanyl, methamphetamine, or cocaine.
- Trends: Overdose deaths with ketamine increased from 0.3% in 2019 to 0.5% by mid-2023.
- Demographics: Most ketamine-related deaths were among males (71%) and non-Hispanic Whites (73.7%). A significant portion in the 25–34 age range.
Implications for Public Health:
- Monitoring: Continuous surveillance is essential to understand ketamine’s role in polysubstance overdose deaths.
- Context: Increases may correlate with ketamine’s expanded medical use, highlighting a need for careful public health management.
Takeaways:
- Rising Trend: Although ketamine is rare in overdose deaths, its presence in toxicology reports is gradually increasing.
- Risk Factors: Illegally manufactured drugs often accompany ketamine in overdose cases, intensifying the overdose risk.
- Public Health Response: The mixed substance findings suggest an opportunity to adapt overdose prevention strategies to address ketamine when paired with opioids or stimulants.
