ResearchPublications

Research Letter:

“Ketamine is used in both human and animal medicine for pain and sedation and recently in psychiatry for indications such as depression. Recreational use of illicit ketamine, off-label ketamine prescribing, and for-profit clinics have become more common, with lack of regulatory oversight and increased direct-to-consumer advertising. In 1999, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classified ketamine as a Schedule III controlled substance in response to increasing recreational use and thefts from veterinary clinics. Although law enforcement seizures of illicit ketamine have increased, little is known regarding diversion of pharmaceutical ketamine. Diversion and illicit use are important to monitor to inform prevention and treatment efforts. This analysis examined the prevalence and characteristics of reported diversion of undistributed ketamine.”