A ketamine K-hole is a dissociative state characterized by hallucinations, out-of-body experiences, and a sense of detachment from reality. For some, the K-hole experience is enjoyable. Others, not so much. 

K-holes are often described as being similar to near-death experiences. They can cause users to lose touch with reality and become disconnected from their surroundings.  

What is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used medically for induction and maintenance of anesthesia. It is one of the safest anesthetics. 

First used in Belgium in the 1960s as an anesthesia medicine for animals. The FDA approved it as an anesthetic for people in 1970. It was used in the jungles of Vietnam to treat wounded soldiers. In 1985, the World Health Organisation inducted the drug into its List of Essential Medicines.

More recently, it's been used to treat people with depression and in combination with therapy.

It is a dissociative drug, producing a sense of mind from body separation (dissociation). A “dissociative experience” is also basically a “trip.” That’s how it became a recreational drug, called K, Special K, Super K, kit kat and Vitamin K.  Partiers inject it, put it in drinks, snort it, or add it to joints or cigarettes.

How does Ketamine work?

It works by stopping the brain from getting nerve messages about pain. It also alters how you experience sight and sound.

These effects are caused by ketamine's action on the glutamate system in the brain. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter that plays a major role in neuronal excitability, and ketamine's action on this system leads to the drug's psychedelic effects.

When ketamine is used recreationally, users often report experiencing out-of-body experiences, detachment from reality, and hallucinations. These effects are similar to those of other psychedelics, such as LSD and psilocybin mushrooms.  

Is Ketamine Legal?

Ketamine has a long history of medical use, but Its use as a recreational drug is illegal in many countries. 

In the USA, Ketamine is a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act.  In Canada Ketamine is controlled under Schedule I of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

What Does a K-Hole Feel like?

People describe a K-hole as an out-of-body experience; an intense sensation of being separate from your body. Hallucinations and euphoria are common.  Some people say it feels as if they’re rising above their body,  or having sensations of “melting” into their surroundings.

The physical effects can be pretty unnerving. When you’re in a K-hole, numbness can make it difficult to speak or move. Equally, many people describe their K-hole experiences as life changing.

There are lots of trip reports on Erowid (peoples personal experience with the drug) some positive, some negative.  

Positive: https://erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=88957

"What was once my small room became the size of a Cathedral. The floor manifested itself into a thousand ninjas whereby the ones below me slide their owns around my body and dragged me through the floor. Falling deeper into the ground I realised I was being dragged down a long stairwell and on each step stood my closest friends who waved me off. I couldn’t help but to smile. The wave of energy pulled my back forward. I could feel it before it hit me. The room circled and spiralled outwards. Pink snow began to fall in the middle. A intensely bright light opened up within the right part of my peripheral vision. My bed slipped though into a street which appeared to be in New York. I slid through the street backwards on my bed. I got pulled into a large darkly lit room. My bed became a large rug that some Indian lady got hold of. She pulled the rug further into the building and others danced around me. The women turned into angels. They wore white and sat round my bed. One held my hand and lay next to me. Light shone down on my bed. The music began to crescendo (think it was "sparks" by Royksopp. This is a perfect k-hole tune). The angels became real people which existed in the world. I could feel their thoughts, they each had energy radiating from their heads which flowed directly through me. I merged closer to one a single one. We began to merge. First our feet then our bodies bended towards one another working our way slowly up the body. We became a solid entity, I could feel her breathing through me, both our thoughts intertwining into one. I felt complete. We shared and essence. We floated through the space of my bedroom which was now a large helium balloon gradually rocking and rising further and further into space. Gravity slowly left us as we drifted into the stratosphere and headed towards the stars. Eventually we parted and drifted back towards my body. The trip gently pushed me back in until I was ready to take control. I lifted my head and the experience was over."

Negative: https://erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=78894

"It wasn't too bad at first, but quickly became hellish. I was like a bunch of rubber bands tangled and looped together, moving along with other masses of tangled rubber bands. For some reason it began to feel like torture. I eventually got down to the point where I was the only one of things things I could really detect, though I knew there were others. I was asking for help. I wanted out of there. I asked what I guess might be God for help, but at the time I thought maybe I was one of many gods who had created false universes to escape in to. I had brought this on myself. I never felt as though I was being punished by some deity. I knew that I had removed myself from the universe that had been created to shield me and everyone else from this true reality I was at first moving or rolling along what might have been like a grid. Any changes in direction seemed to be 90 degree shifts in direction or movement straight up or down, usually down. I felt something like static and electric feelings, even though I didn't have any sort of body, just being a mass of tangled strings or loops. I eventually stopped moving. The torment grew even more intense once that happened. I was begging for help more than ever, trying to get back into any universe I could possibly enter, and trying to create some new reality with my mind that I could then enter to escape the torment."

How Long does it take for Ketamine to Kick in?

This really depends on the method of consumption...

• Around 1 minute if injected
• 5-15 minutes if snorted
• Up to 30 minutes if ingested

How Long does ketamine last?

Depending on the dose, the effects of ketamine typically last 45-90 minutes, 

K-Hole Risks

Having a bad experience can be pretty uncomfortable. People report paranoia, panic and memory loss. When used in higher doses or frequently, risks can include...

• vomiting
• addiction
• slow heart rate
• slow breathing
• overdose and death - you can take so much that your heart will stop. 

If you are every with someone who you think has overdosed on ketamine, the safest thing you can do is call emergency ASAP. 

How to Minimize Ketamine Risks

We firmly believe in a harm reduction to drugs, so If you’re going to use it, there are things you can do to minimize the risk. 

• Always test your drugs with a kit like this - synthetic drugs are often cut with  contaminants. 
• Nausea is a common side effect of ketamine, so avoid eating right before. You may see it again.
• You can’t predict how a drug will affect you. Start low.
• Setting - make sure you're in a safe and familiar place. 
• Ketamine carries a risk of dependence - do not use it regularly. 
• Have a friend with you who is (ideally) sober to look after you. 
• Don’t mix it with other drugs. Alcohol is a common combination, but can be a very dangerous choice.