Atlanta, GA – Overdose deaths with ketamine detected have increased steadily from July 2019 to June 2023, according to new findings published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report underscores the evolving role of ketamine in drug overdoses, often in combination with other potent substances.

Led by Alana M. Vivolo-Kantor, Ph.D., researchers from the CDC analyzed data from the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) across 45 jurisdictions. They examined overdose deaths where ketamine was either detected or listed as an involved substance, observing a significant upward trend over the four-year period.

In their analysis, the researchers identified 228,668 overdose deaths within the study period. Although ketamine was detected in a small fraction of cases, representing 0.4% of overdose deaths and involved in 0.2%, the increase is noteworthy. Among these deaths, ketamine was the sole substance in just 0.01% of cases, with the vast majority involving other powerful drugs, notably illegally manufactured fentanyls (IMFs), methamphetamine, and cocaine, found in 58.7%, 28.8%, and 27.2% of cases, respectively.

The demographics of individuals with ketamine detected in overdose cases show that 34.8% were aged 25 to 34 years, 71.3% were male, and 73.7% were non-Hispanic Whites. The rise in ketamine-related overdose deaths began as early as the second half of 2020, with ketamine detection increasing from 0.3% to 0.5% by mid-2023.

The report’s authors suggest that the increased presence of ketamine in overdose cases may be linked to the rising use of polysubstances and ketamine’s use in treatment-resistant depression and other compounded formulations. “As polysubstance use and use of ketamine for treatment-resistant depression and in compounded formulations increase, continued monitoring is needed to identify potential changes in the detection and involvement of ketamine in overdose deaths,” the authors emphasize.

The findings point to the need for vigilant tracking of ketamine-related deaths, as its presence in overdose cases may signal shifting patterns in drug use and potential risks associated with polysubstance consumption. The CDC advises that as ketamine use becomes more common, particularly in medical and therapeutic settings, continuous monitoring will be essential to mitigate overdose risks and inform public health strategies.