Warning: This article contains discussion of drug addiction which some readers may find distressing
A simulation depicting what it's really like to be in a ketamine-induced 'k-hole' has shocked viewers online.
The video comes after the side effect known as 'ket bladder' was shared by a former addict.
According to Megan Taylor, from Walton, the health effect is a result of her long-term use of ketamine.
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After years of taking the drug, the 22-year-old said that she 'didn't want to stop' taking it at the time, though she attributed the addiction to her ADHD and autism as she struggles to break out of routines.
The Brit explained that she suffered from 'ket cramps' for the first time on Boxing Day 2022, which felt like she was being stabbed in her torso, with the pain only subsiding after taking another dose of ketamine.
After resorting to burning herself with a hot water bottle to deal with the pain, she even reported 'blowing out blood and scabs' from her nose before suffering from 'ket bladder'.
"The symptoms you get with ket bladder is like someone pouring boiling water into your bladder. It's just burning and burning and burning. Then it's swollen," she explained.
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Megan added: "I had so many bits of like, jelly, coming out of me. I didn't realise until a few months ago that this is the lining of your bladder. There's no saving your bladder, you're going to end up with a bag. I know people don't want that."
So, considering these horrific side effects, why do people take ket in the first place?
How does Ketamine work?
Known as 'ket' or 'K', the party drug has increased in popularity, with more young people using it recreationally.
When mixed with other substances, it can be life-threatening, though ket itself can spike your heart rate and blood pressure, increasing the risk of cardiac arrest.
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Traditionally, the drug was used in the medical and veterinary worlds as an anaesthetic or painkiller but when used by humans, it makes them disconnect from pain and their surroundings.
Taking 15 to 20 minutes to take effect, it can then last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
It can make the user feel detached, happy, or 'tripped out', which can be a benefit in social situations.
Well as you can imagine, people take ketamine for the same reason why many people do substances at all, or even have a few drinks - for the feeling.
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For those who have no idea what doing ketamine feels like, there's a handy simulation which shows you what someone in a 'k-hole' sees.
Being in a k-hole is a state of detachment from your own body and environment, leaving you immobilised as a result of ketamine intoxication.
A YouTube video from Symmetric Vision shows the perspective of someone looking at some plants when they start to k-hole, resulting in everything becoming warped and changing colour.
Your hearing would then start to get quite loud and robotic-sounding as you start to feel the full effects of the drugs.
You'd then lose focus and perspective of things around you, forming symmetrical patterns and making it feel like you're zooming in/out of what's in front of you, before everything fades and becomes blurry.
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Users took to the comments to share what they thought of the simulation, with one writing: "This is quite accurate, similar visuals happened to me while looking at grass."
Another pointed out: "When you're in a room it feels like you're in a completely different place like it’s constantly morphing," with a third adding: "The morphing and moving is accurate af."
A different user wrote: "WOW except for the very end this is the only accurate ketamine/disso visual replication I have ever seen."
If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can talk to FRANK. You can call 0300 123 6600, text 82111 or contact through their website 24/7, or livechat from 2pm-6pm any day of the week
Topics: Drugs, Mental Health, Health
Joshua Nair