Some of my friends have started using something called 'Special K'. It's a white powder and they snort it. What is it and what is the 'K hole' that they keep talking about?
'Special K' is a street term for ketamine, a
powerful anaesthetic used in both human and veterinary surgery. It is a
dissociative drug, which means that when used, the mind leaves the body causing
the user to experience quite intense hallucinations. Ketamine was first used
extensively during the Vietnam War during battlefield surgery. When
soldiers returned home, those who had been given the drug talked about the experiences that
they had had whilst under the effect of the drug and not surprisingly it
started to be used recreationally. Its popularity increased quite
dramatically in the 1990s, this time amongst the nightclub scene, with people
reporting that the drug enhanced the clubbing experience (i.e.,, the music
sounded different and the lights were more intense).
Doctors and vets use ketamine in an injectable liquid form
but 'Special K' users usually buy the drug in a fine crystal or powder form that is then
snorted. Users who take too much of the drug can find themselves in a
dissociated state, or as it is now called a 'k-hole'. As a result,
smaller, measured doses (called 'bumps') are usually taken, increasing the chance
of having a more 'pleasurable' experience with the drug. So what exactly is a
'k-hole' and is it dangerous?
A 'k-hole' is difficult to define as it means different things to different people, but essentially there appears to be two
types of 'k-holes'. Some users regard it as the state of dissociation and in these cases it is regarded
as a 'positive' experience. Often the initial events may feel like they are
happening at a high speed, with people reporting feeling as though they are zooming through tunnels or computer networks, traveling on
rollercoasters or being swept through a sewer. However, there is another place
you can go when you have one 'bump' too many – a black place which many users
believe they will never return from. Some compare this to a 'near-death
experience' (NDE) and see it as a dark and frightening place and
somewhere that they never want to go to again! There is a real sense that
what is being experienced is real and that they are actually dead or dying, and that what
is happening is inexpressible in words.
We really don't know very much about the long-term use of
ketamine as most of the research conducted in the area has been looking at its
use by medical professionals for surgery. There is certainly growing evidence
that regular use of ketamine can cause serious bladder and urinary tract
problems. This can lead to difficulty urinating and there have now been documented cases of regular users of 'Special K' needing to have surgery in an attempt to fix these problems. It also needs to be remembered that the potential for
ketamine users to do harm to themselves while in the 'k-hole' is great and
there are many stories of users burning or cutting themselves unknowingly
whilst using the drug.
First published: August 2016
Updated: April 2018
First published: August 2016
Updated: April 2018