PEORIA, Ill. – The death of actor Matthew Perry has increased the awareness of a sedative that can be misused.
Perry died in October from what was described as acute effects of ketamine, along with heart disease and drowning.
Dr. Robert Lizer is a medical director at the addiction recovery center at Carle Health’s Trillium Place, and says ketamine is mainly used in hospitals for minor procedures, and can be used to treat PTSD.
“Ketamine’s been around for a long time. Basically, we call a dissociative anesthetic. It’s got some, what we call, halogenic properties. It’s basically a short-term sedative and anesthetic,” says Lizer.
Along with hospitals, Lizer says ketamine can be found in veterinary clinics.
He says when ketamine is used properly, a person can feel a euphoria detached from pain or depression they are suffering. But when it’s taken in unregulated larger doses, the effects can be dangerous.
“You can have increased agitation, you can have depression, you can have unconsciousness, and then you have respiratory depression or not breathing at higher doses,” Lizer said.
Lizer says ketamine can be found unregulated and used by younger people, especially at festivals, raves, and bars. He says ketamine can circulate the public by being brought in from Mexico or stolen from veterinary clinics.
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