Trapped in the "K-hole": overview of deaths associated with ketamine misuse in the UK (1993-2006).

Medical use of ketamine has a good safety record, but recent increase of misuse is worrying. We focussed on ketamine misuse mortality figures (UK; 1993-2006), extracted both from St George‟s np-SAD database and from published mortality statistics. The 23 victims (typically males, in the 25-44 age group) self-administered themselves with a miscellany of psychoactive compounds and alcohol. Ketamine was detected in 4 cases on its own. Although drug identification does not necessarily imply direct contribution to death, the suggested ketamine high safety profile is here questioned. Coroners/ procurators fiscal should consider more routine screening for ketamine in unexpected deaths.