Truth on K.
…it's not good.
Street ketamine is different from ketamine prescribed by a doctor.
The numbers.
~80%
rise in US nonmedical ketamine use, 2021–2023
Read the sourceSource: NSDUH via The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 2025
What needs
a closer look.
There is plenty of noise around ketamine. We only publish claims when we can show you the source.
Ketamine harm is going up.
See the dataThe ketamine
spiral.
See what studies found about ketamine and health.
02 Mix it with alcohol, opioids or benzos and your breathing can stop.
Read the source03 Heavy users have worse memory. It shows up on brain scans.
Read the sourceNeed help?
Start here.
For you or someone you care about. No judgment.
01
Emergency
If someone cannot be woken or is breathing slowly, call 911.
02
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call 988, text 988, or chat online. Available 24/7.
03
SAMHSA National Helpline
1-800-662-HELP (4357). Free, confidential, 24/7, in English and Spanish.
04
Poison Help
For a possible overdose or bad reaction, call 1-800-222-1222 (America's Poison Centers).
05
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline
Call 800-656-4673, or chat online.
Outside the US? Find a local helpline at findahelpline.com.
What we do.
Better information. Better questions. Less harm.
01 Educate.
We publish clear, youth-friendly content on how ketamine affects memory, mood, and risk of overdose, separating facts from hype.
02 Fund.
We support research into long-term brain impacts and why some people are more vulnerable to harm.
03 Advocate.
We push for smarter prevention policies that reduce harm without stigma or confusion.
Clear about where we stand.
The Ketamine Awareness Project is a nonprofit focused on education, research, and policy. We exist to raise awareness of the dangers of recreational ketamine use, especially among young people.
We're talking about street ketamine. Ketamine from a doctor is a different thing.
More about us →