Heavy ketamine use affects short-term memory

People who frequently take ketamine suffer from short-term memory problems, according to a study by UCL researchers. However, the study also found that infrequent and ex-users did not show such memory impairments, suggesting that memory deficits may be repaired when people quit taking the drug. The authors urge health campaigners to ensure that the growing number of ketamine users are made aware of these potentially negative effects on their health. Ketamine (K or Special K), the N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, is known to induce psychosis-like effects, but little is known about the long-term effects of the drug. In a paper published online in the journal Addiction , UCL researchers Celia Morgan and Professor Valerie Curran report the first longitudinal study of ketamine users, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). A cohort of 150 people was followed for a year to see if changes in their ketamine use could predict changes in their psychological well-being, memory and concentration. Of these 150 people, 30 were taking large quantities of the drug nearly every day, 30 were taking it recreationally (once or twice a month), 30 were ex-users, 30 used illicit drugs apart from ketamine and 30 did not use any illicit drugs.