Pubdate: 31 Dec 2005
Source: Evening Star, The (UK)
Copyright: 2006, Eastern Counties Newspapers Group Ltd
Contact:  http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/Content/news/news_home.asp
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1695
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?158 (Club Drugs)

DRUG WORKERS BACK KETAMINE BAN

DRUG workers in Suffolk today welcomed moves to criminalise a 
tranquilliser whose popularity is rocketing in the underground club scene.

Ketamine, which is best known as a horse tranquilliser, will become a 
Class C drug from January 1.

The powerful hallucinogen - nicknamed "special K", "tekno smack" and 
"vitamin K' - is currently legal.

A spokesman for the Suffolk Drug and Alcohol Action Team said: "In 
Suffolk we have been working for some years to raise awareness of the 
drug as part of our training and awareness programme. From January 1, 
our substance misuse workers will be looking to establish evidence on 
the use and potential harm of this drug.

"The team is very pleased to see this is being introduced alongside 
law changes surrounding the dealing of drugs near schools and the use 
of children as couriers."

In September the charity DrugScope revealed Ketamine was rapidly 
gaining popularity and had become a significant player in the UK drugs scene.

Previously a fringe drug in the gay clubbing scene, the charity found 
it was on sale in eight out of 15 British towns and cities surveyed.

Home Office minister Paul Goggins said: "Although ketamine use is 
relatively low in the UK, there has been an increase in use by 
clubbers in recent years.

"Ketamine presents serious health risks and must be subject to strict 
controls to provide a considerable deterrent to those seeking to 
import and supply the drug.'

Ketamine was invented in the Parke-Davies laboratories, Michigan, US, in 1962.

Despite its reputation as a veterinary tranquilliser it was used in 
US field hospitals in the Vietnam war and is still used medically for 
humans under the brand name Ketalar. Large doses can lead to euphoria 
and energy rushes and can cause users to descend into hallucinations 
and alternate realities, nick-named K-holes. Users also commonly 
experience temporary paralysis and speech loss.

Other drug law changes coming into force on New Year's Day will see 
dealers who sell drugs near schools or use children as couriers 
facing stiffer penalties.

Police will also be able to request X-rays or ultrasounds of dealers 
suspected of swallowing Class A drugs.

The Drugs Act 2005 also increases the maximum amount of time 
suspected "drug mules' arrested by the police can be held in custody 
from 96 hours to 192 hours, so the packages can pass through their system.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom