Plugging Ketamine | Boofing Ketamine (Rectal Use)

Ketamine is a medical anesthetic that provides some hallucinogenic effects. It is most often used as an anesthetic, but doctors also administer it as a treatment for depression. As a Schedule III controlled substance, ketamine has a high potential for abuse. People who abuse ketamine report euphoria and dissociative hallucinations. In some cases, people may resort to plugging as a method of ingestion.

Plugging Ketamine

Ketamine became a popular club drug because it gives a short psychedelic experience, between a half-hour and an hour, unlike PCP or LSD, which last much longer. When abused through methods like plugging, the effects of ketamine can be felt intensely due to the drug’s increased bioavailability when taken in the rectum.

People who abuse ketamine by methods like snorting (intranasal insufflation) or plugging (rectal administration) increase their potential for strong negative reactions. For example, when taken to excess, people can experience a “K-hole,” which gives the feeling of a near-death, inescapable trip of terrifying auditory and visual hallucinations.

Side Effects Of Plugging Ketamine

Ketamine is most effective through intramuscular intravenous injection since its effectiveness is not lessened by first-pass metabolism as it is with oral administration. Methods like plugging ketamine solutions, and snorting or smoking powdered ketamine, are common administration routes for recreational ketamine use. When people self-medicate with ketamine or adjust the dosage to get high, ketamine can result in unpredictable side effects that have an impact both physically and psychologically. Common, expected effects from ketamine use include immobility, amnesia, and numbness.

Unpleasant side effects of plugging ketamine can include:

• dissociation
• elevated blood pressure
• decreased heart rate
• irregular heartbeat
• double vision
• seizures
• impaired motor function
• agitation
• anxiety
• slowed or stopped breathing
• nausea
• vomiting
• dizziness
• disorientation/confusion
• drowsiness

These serious side effects can become life-threatening, particularly when breathing becomes slowed or irregular, or when seizures occur. Anyone experiencing severe ketamine side effects should seek immediate medical attention to prevent potentially fatal complications.

Adverse Physical Effects Of Plugging Drugs

Plugging drugs like ketamine often involves diluting liquid or powdered ketamine and inserting the liquid into the rectum with a needleless syringe, like an oral medicine dispenser.

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However, this rectal drug delivery method can be risky without taking proper precautions like using lubrication and sterile applicators. Ketamine, like other drugs that are abused by plugging, enters the bloodstream rapidly through the delicate tissues inside the rectum.

Dangers Of Plugging

Plugging leads to a more efficient drug intake, similar to injecting or snorting drugs. Still, plugging drugs is not a safe drug intake method. Constant rectal drug abuse may cause uncomfortable symptoms like infections or an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STI) due to cuts and damaged rectal tissues. Plugging is especially dangerous for people with pre-existing conditions like low blood platelets, persistent diarrhea, impaired circulatory blood flow, and anorectal diseases.

Who Is Most At Risk Of Misusing Ketamine?

Ketamine abuse is most common among young adults and teenagers who frequent clubs, raves, and music festivals, where the drug is widely available and sometimes seen as a normal part of the social scene. Because ketamine produces a short but intense high, it can appeal to people looking for a quick escape from stress, anxiety, or depression. People who have previously abused other club drugs like MDMA or LSD are also at higher risk, as ketamine is frequently used alongside these substances.

Those with untreated mental health conditions are particularly vulnerable. Because ketamine is sometimes used medically to treat depression, people may mistakenly believe that self-medicating with street ketamine is safe or even helpful. In reality, uncontrolled recreational use can make depression and anxiety significantly worse over time.

Long-Term Effects Of Ketamine Abuse

While ketamine might seem helpful at first for things like depression or just to feel different, using it too much changes how your brain works and hurts important parts of your body. The drug stops pain signals and makes people feel disconnected from reality, but when someone uses high amounts over and over, it becomes very harmful. Extended periods of ketamine abuse can cause severe, irreversible physical and emotional impairments.

Ketamine side effects may include:

• rapid heart rate
• respiratory distress
• frequent urination
• trouble urinating
• incontinence
• bladder ulcers causing cloudy or bloody urine
• depression/anxiety
• persistent amnesia
• ketamine cravings
• increased risk of sexual assault and abuse when unconscious

The damage from using ketamine for a long time often needs serious medical help and can cause permanent health problems. Getting better from ketamine addiction usually means getting treatment that helps with both the physical addiction and any mental health problems that led to using drugs in the first place.

Risks Of Ketamine Overdose

While there have been reported overdose deaths from ketamine use, they rarely occur as a result of ketamine use alone. However, when it does occur effects can include stroke, seizure, and brain damage. Overdose deaths typically occur when ketamine is used alongside central nervous system depressants or other hallucinogenic or stimulant drugs. Ketamine is commonly used with drugs like marijuana or alongside other club drugs like MDMA, LSD, or PCP. People who experiment with ketamine may also experiment with its use with opioids like fentanyl or hydrocodone, which can contribute to severe respiratory depression and death.

Symptoms Of Ketamine Withdrawal

When people stop using ketamine after using it regularly for a long time, their body needs time to get used to not having the drug anymore. It’s usually best for people to get help from doctors or counselors during this time because withdrawal can be uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous. The body and brain have gotten used to having ketamine around, so stopping suddenly can cause both physical and mental problems.

Ketamine withdrawal symptoms may include:

• nightmares
• chills
• severe cravings
• tremors
• sweating
• loss of appetite
• fatigue
• restlessness
• anxiety and depression
• flashbacks
• rapid or irregular heartbeat

Even though ketamine is sometimes used by doctors to treat depression, stopping the drug suddenly can make depression much worse and even cause thoughts of suicide. Getting professional help during withdrawal is important because these symptoms can be serious and may need medical attention to keep someone safe.

Addiction Treatment Programs

Treatment programs are designed to help people safely get off ketamine while learning new ways to cope with stress, depression, or other problems that led to drug use. The best treatment plans address both the physical addiction and any mental health issues that might be connected to the ketamine use. Different people need different types of help, so treatment centers offer various levels of care to match what each person needs.

Treatment options may include:

• medically supervised detoxification
• inpatient rehab programs
• intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
• partial hospitalization programs (PHP)
• individual counseling and therapy
• group therapy
• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• dual diagnosis treatment for depression and other mental health conditions
• family therapy and education
• medication management for withdrawal symptoms
• aftercare and relapse prevention planning
• support groups and peer counseling

Professional treatment gives people the best chance at long-term recovery by providing medical care, therapy, and ongoing support. Getting help early can prevent serious health problems and make recovery easier than waiting until the addiction gets worse.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff