Rising Incidence of Ketamine Detection in Overdose Deaths

A recent report from the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) reveals an increase in ketamine detection in U.S. overdose deaths between July 2019 and June 2023. While ketamine remains a small factor in overdose mortality—detected in less than 1% of cases—the presence of this Schedule III substance in toxicology reports has increased from 0.3% in 2019 to 0.5% by 2023.

Ketamine, primarily approved by the FDA for anesthesia, gained popularity for managing treatment-resistant depression. However, nearly 82% of overdose deaths involving ketamine also detected other high-risk substances, particularly illegally manufactured fentanyls (IMFs), methamphetamine, and cocaine.

Key demographic findings indicate that overdose deaths with ketamine detection predominantly involved young adults (aged 25–34 years), males, and non-Hispanic White individuals. CDC emphasizes that continued research is necessary to understand the impact of ketamine, especially with polysubstance use, on overdose fatalities.

For healthcare professionals, these findings underscore the importance of monitoring polysubstance interactions and potential adverse events associated with ketamine, particularly in cases of illicit ketamine use. The report highlights the role of healthcare providers in addressing potential risks as ketamine availability increases for medical and non-medical uses.

Implications for Practice:
This trend highlights a need for toxicologists and healthcare providers to stay vigilant about ketamine in overdose cases and to consider its interactions with other substances.

Resource:https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7344a4.htm