The Brief
- Ketamine as a prescription nasal spray has become more popular as a treatment for depression.
- Unlike with a fentanyl overdose, ketamine cannot be reversed using Narcan.
- A program specialist with the Florida Harm Reduction Collective said it’s because this is a new trend, and she fears overdoses will rise.
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – According to a harm reduction specialist, the illicit use of ketamine is on the rise in Polk County.
The backstory:
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that has hallucinogenic effects. It already has a “party drug” status, but Becca Smith, a program specialist with the Florida Harm Reduction Collective, said it’s becoming more readily available on the streets of Polk County as we see a rise in at-home and telehealth treatment.…