Gay clubbing drug Special K to be re-classified

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • December 28, 2005 - 0:00

“Special K“ is currently classified only as a controlled substance (Picture posed by models)

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An anaesthetic used by vets to tranquilise horses, which has been increasingly popular on the gay clubbing scene, is to be re-classified to make it a serious crime to possess it.

Ketamine, nicknamed "Special K" ,is currently classed as a controlled substance, but is not a classified drug. This means that the drug users caught by the police can only be charged with possessing a controlled substance.

The Home Office Minister Paul Goggins today announced that the drug would be reclassified to a Class C drug with those caught in possession of the substance facing a two year jail term. Those involved in the drugs manufacture could be sentenced to up to 14 years behind bars.

"Although Ketamine use is relatively low in the UK, there has been an increase in use by clubbers in recent years," Mr Goggins said. "Keatmine 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."

PinkNews.co.uk spoke to a semi regular user of 'Special K', a 19-year-old student who wishes to be known as Chris. He says that taking the drug has an immediate sensory impact: "when I've taken it, I find it hard to move my muscles, I feel like I'm walking on sponge. The lights in the club flash and sparkle like stars and I become very relaxed."

Chris also says that the drug induces hallucinations: "once my friend (who gave me the drug) was talking to me and his eyes turned red and then he morphed into the devil, it was scary but in a good way."

Like many in the gay community, Chris assumed that Ketamine was already illegal: "I thought it was a class A drug anyway so making it class C is hardly going to change my mind over taking it."

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