Mr-E-man
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2003
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State gets tough on dance party drug
By Alex Mitchell, State Political Editor
December 14, 2003
The Sun-Herald
Sydney's rave and dance party scene is being fuelled by a drug normally prescribed by vets for racehorses.
Called ketamine, it is an anaesthetic commonly used on two-year-old colts when they are being gelded.
On the nightclub circuit, however, where it is known as Special K, K, Bump or Kat Valium, it causes "out of body" experiences and hallucinations for up to two hours.
The NSW Government last week took action through the Executive Council, chaired by Governor Marie Bashir, to ban ketamine and list it as a prohibited substance under the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act.
Special Minister of State John Della Bosca, who is responsible for drug policy in NSW, said the ban will be accompanied by tougher penalties for ketamine dealers.
"New penalties for those caught manufacturing or supplying the drug include fines between $5500 and $550,000 and anywhere from two years' to life imprisonment or both," he said.
Mr Della Bosca said the Government decided to impose the ban after advice from the NSW Chief Pharmacist John Lumby and a report by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre warning of the dangers to young people.
"Ketamine is a short-acting anaesthetic drug that is mainly used for veterinary purposes," he said. "Unfortunately, it is also being increasingly traded on the black market.
"In addition to adverse effects such as vertigo, nausea, headaches and muscle spasms, ketamine can provoke extreme anxiety, respiratory depression, severe palpitations and an increased incidence of drug-induced psychiatric problems such as paranoia, psychosis, and persistent hallucinations."
Ketamine is a prescription-only drug widely used by vets in the thoroughbred racing industry and is available in liquid form at around $17 for a 5-millilitre bottle. On the black market, however, it fetches $100 a bottle and is consumed in drinks or injected. When dried into powder or crystals, it is mixed with ecstasy, heroin or cocaine and swallowed or inhaled through the nostrils.
The US Drug Enforcement Agency reports that ketamine has also been used as a date-rape drug while US crime intelligence reports say gangs were obtaining supplies by robbing pharmacies and wholesale veterinary suppliers.
Mr Della Bosca said existing maximum penalties for unauthorised supply of ketamine are $2200 or two years' imprisonment or both.
By Alex Mitchell, State Political Editor
December 14, 2003
The Sun-Herald
Sydney's rave and dance party scene is being fuelled by a drug normally prescribed by vets for racehorses.
Called ketamine, it is an anaesthetic commonly used on two-year-old colts when they are being gelded.
On the nightclub circuit, however, where it is known as Special K, K, Bump or Kat Valium, it causes "out of body" experiences and hallucinations for up to two hours.
The NSW Government last week took action through the Executive Council, chaired by Governor Marie Bashir, to ban ketamine and list it as a prohibited substance under the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act.
Special Minister of State John Della Bosca, who is responsible for drug policy in NSW, said the ban will be accompanied by tougher penalties for ketamine dealers.
"New penalties for those caught manufacturing or supplying the drug include fines between $5500 and $550,000 and anywhere from two years' to life imprisonment or both," he said.
Mr Della Bosca said the Government decided to impose the ban after advice from the NSW Chief Pharmacist John Lumby and a report by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre warning of the dangers to young people.
"Ketamine is a short-acting anaesthetic drug that is mainly used for veterinary purposes," he said. "Unfortunately, it is also being increasingly traded on the black market.
"In addition to adverse effects such as vertigo, nausea, headaches and muscle spasms, ketamine can provoke extreme anxiety, respiratory depression, severe palpitations and an increased incidence of drug-induced psychiatric problems such as paranoia, psychosis, and persistent hallucinations."
Ketamine is a prescription-only drug widely used by vets in the thoroughbred racing industry and is available in liquid form at around $17 for a 5-millilitre bottle. On the black market, however, it fetches $100 a bottle and is consumed in drinks or injected. When dried into powder or crystals, it is mixed with ecstasy, heroin or cocaine and swallowed or inhaled through the nostrils.
The US Drug Enforcement Agency reports that ketamine has also been used as a date-rape drug while US crime intelligence reports say gangs were obtaining supplies by robbing pharmacies and wholesale veterinary suppliers.
Mr Della Bosca said existing maximum penalties for unauthorised supply of ketamine are $2200 or two years' imprisonment or both.