Ketamine Use on the Rise: Experts Urge Caution and Community Support
Washington,D.C. – A recent episode of NPR’s It’s Been a Minute with Brittany Luse explored the increasing recreational use of ketamine, alongside its potential risks and the importance of harm reduction strategies. The discussion featured journalist P.E. Moskowitz, author of “breaking Awake: A Reporter’s search For A New Life Through Drugs,” and benjamin Breen, associate professor of history at UC Santa Cruz and author of “Tripping On Utopia.”
The conversation highlighted ketamine’s capacity to lower inhibitions and induce profound psychological experiences. Moskowitz described the substance as potentially leading individuals ”to places that you’re not ready to go,” emphasizing the critical need for a supportive community when experimenting with the drug. Breen seconded this, strongly advising against using ketamine alone and advocating for a “trip sitter” to provide support.
A notable safety concern raised during the broadcast was the risk of fentanyl contamination in illicitly obtained ketamine. Breen urged listeners to utilize readily available drug-testing kits, stating, ”Anything that is a white powder that is obtained illicitly is a potential danger for fentanyl.”
Luse clarified that NPR does not advocate for drug use but acknowledged the importance of understanding the reasons behind the rise in recreational ketamine use.
listeners interested in further information on the science of ketamine were directed to NPR’s Short Wave podcast.
The episode also included a listener shout-out to Spotify user Queen Bean, who shared her positive experience with weightlifting during menopause.
The episode was produced by Liam McBain, edited by Neena Pathak, with supervising producer Barton Girdwood, executive producer veralyn Williams, and VP of programming Yolanda Sangweni.
