Increasing numbers of ketamine users are questioning their addiction status; many find that they have developed a dependency on the drug, often without realizing it. While it's difficult to ascertain how widespread ketamine use disorder is, numerous online accounts share stories of individuals who have become addicted through recreational use or off-label medical prescriptions for mental health conditions.
Ketamine users commonly experience withdrawal symptoms, including severe abdominal pain known as 'K cramps.' The need for higher doses to achieve the same effects further complicates their situation, indicating a reliance on the drug that resembles classic addiction patterns.
Hallucinations associated with ketamine use are described as terrifying and vivid, creating a distortion of visual and auditory perceptions. These out-of-body experiences often result in a disconnect from reality, with users feeling as if they are observing themselves from a distance.
The demographic most affected in the U.S. appears to be teens and young adults from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, who actively seek ketamine for recreational purposes. Unfortunately, this has also led some to self-medicate psychiatric disorders, exacerbating public health concerns.
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