Pubdate: Fri, 05 Feb 2010
Source: Hamilton Spectator (CN ON)
Copyright: 2010 The Hamilton Spectator
Contact:  http://www.thespec.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/181
Author: Carmelina Prete

TEENS TURNING FROM COCAINE TO KETAMINE: POLICE

The animal painkiller ketamine is replacing cocaine as a street drug 
of choice among teens, according to Hamilton police.

Typically sold as a white powder in small vials of about a gram, the 
drug, also known as Special K, looks like cocaine but costs a third 
of the price. At about $10 to $20 a vial or a "bump," it's a cheap 
alternative to the $50 a gram cocaine costs.

"Kids are taking this but it's certainly not just the kids," said 
Constable Perry Mason, a school resource officer. "It's an emerging 
problem in the community and schools are just a reflection of the community."

Hamilton police say the street value of cocaine has nearly doubled 
from $29,000 a kilogram in 2007 to $57,000 to $59,000 a kilogram today.

At the same time, the cost of designer drugs such as ecstasy and 
Special K dropped. Club prices were about $20 a pill in 2007. Now 
they're $5, police said.

Today, an ounce of cocaine costs about $1,500 whereas an ounce of 
ketamine goes for about $450 to $500.

Cocaine, a stimulant, and ketamine, a fast-acting and powerful 
anesthetic and painkiller used in veterinary and human surgery, 
produce different highs.

But Sue Kennedy, executive director with Alternatives For Youth, a 
local counselling service for youths with addictions, said it could 
be more about experimentation than finding a similar high.

"(It could be) kids are not even making the distinction between 
ketamine and cocaine. 'Who cares? I'm just going to use something to 
feel different to get a buzz or get high,'" she said. "Are kids 
necessarily making the distinction? Depending who's dealing or 
sharing or using, do they know what they're ingesting? Maybe, maybe not."

Ketamine, also known as K, kitty or kit-kat, is typically snorted, 
mixed into drinks or smoked with marijuana or tobacco. Effects are 
usually felt within one to 10 minutes. It can cause a drunk or dizzy 
feeling and vivid hallucinations.

Also sold as a clear liquid, it's commonly referred to as a date rape 
drug because it can be easily slipped into drinks.

Police attention was drawn to local ketamine use about a year ago 
after they arrested a Hamilton teen near a high school. Then they 
learned about a couple high school students with ketamine addiction.

"From information that the schools received and information we 
received, we thought this required attention," said Mason.

A two-week probe involving 12 officers, dubbed Project Garfield, led 
to the arrest of four teenagers who were charged with possession of 
marijuana. Two of them, both 17, were also charged with possession of 
marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Although none of the charges related to ketamine, Mason said the 
investigation led police to learn more about local ketamine use and 
how it's distributed.

Kennedy said counsellors at Alternatives for Youth are not seeing a 
marked increase in ketamine use among youths seeking counselling.

According to the 2009 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health, ketamine 
ranks low in popularity, with only 2.2 per cent of students in Grade 
7 to 12 having used it.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart