Ketamine: Use and Abuse

Increasing use of ketamine as a recreational drug in Asia, Europe, and America is a great burden on society at large, leading to aspirational strain, unemployment, and crime. These societal effects have led to growing interest among researchers and clinicians in ketamine’s effects on various systems of the body. Ketamine: Use and Abuse reviews the acute and chronic effects of ketamine on both adult and developing animals and humans. Providing an exhaustive review of the literature, the book is supplemented by the introduction of new data and research. Topics include:The pharmacological properties of ketamineThe impact of ketamine on various organ systems, including the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal, respiratory, adrenal, and renal systemsDevelopmental neurotoxicity in the developing brainPostmortem toxicologyThe epidemiology of misuse and patterns of acute and chronic toxicityThe psychosocial aspects of ketamine addictionClinical applications at acceptable doses, including possible contribution to the treatment of depression The contributions in this book represent an initiative to investigate the different facets of ketamine beyond the known psychosocial factors related to addiction and its traditional use as an anesthetic agent. The broad-based coverage is designed to promote heightened attention on the subject and encourage further research into beneficial clinical uses. Read more