Ketamine is a short-acting but powerful general anaesthetic which has been used for operating on humans and animals.  It could effectively knock an elephant out. It has powerful hallucinogenic qualities. Ketamine first appeared on the streets in the United States in the 70s.  It comes in liquid form for medical use and is given intravenously.

Street ketamine is often sold in tablet form as an alternative to ecstasy, or comes as a white crystalline powder for smoking or snorting

• Ketamine has a hallucinatory effect and users can trip for up to three hours at a time.
  
• It can give the user an 'out of body' experience.
  
• Some users say it feels like their mind and body have been separated.
  
• In some cases, users may be physically incapable of moving while under the influence.
  
• You can become psychologically but not physically dependent on Ketamine.

• Because you don't feel any pain when you're on ketamine, you're in danger of injuring yourself badly and having no idea you've done it.
  

• Big doses can cause severe breathing difficulties and even heart failure.
  

• Ketamine is very dangerous when it's mixed with other drugs or even alcohol.
  

• It can cause panic attacks, depression and in large doses can exaggerate pre-existing mental health problems such as schizophrenia.
  

• If high enough doses are taken, the anaesthetic effect can result in death from inhaling vomit.