Drug affects Chinese, Westerners differently
Hong Kong Chinese and Westerners experience different problems from habitual use of the drug ketamine, a study of those seeking help at Hong Kong emergency rooms has found.
Hongkongers' problems tend to be related to the brain, with symptoms such as dizziness, hallucinations and impaired consciousness, the researchers said.
But in the West, most of the adverse effects that result in visits to emergency rooms are related to the heart, such as a racing heartbeat.
One of the researchers, Dr Lau Fei-lung, said the variation might be the result of racial differences.
The study, which researchers said was the biggest of its type in the world, also found ketamine users are prone to stomach aches. Lau, who is director of the Hong Kong Poison Information Centre, said that might be because of impurities in the drug.
The study of 233 ketamine users who sought help at 15 emergency rooms between 2005 and 2008 found their median age to be 22, with the oldest 60 and the youngest 13.
Male users outnumbered females two to one, about 60 per cent were aged between 20 and 29, and all had used other drugs such as heroin and cocaine, according to the study, published today in the Hong Kong Medical Journal.
About half went to hospital suffering impaired consciousness, one in five had stomach aches and about 12 per cent had urinary tract problems. Although 85 per cent had only minor complaints, five patients needed intensive care. One had drunk 10 cans of beer as well as using ketamine; another had taken 40 tablets of Ecstasy with ketamine.
Ketamine use is growing, especially among the young. In 2008, 85 per cent of drug users under the age of 21 were using ketamine, up from 61 per cent in 2005.
Lau said users could die of suffocation if the rhythm of their heart was disrupted. Drowsiness and impaired consciousness also made it extremely dangerous to drive. Even if users took a small amount over a long period, their sense of smell would deteriorate because of damage to the linings of their nose, he said.
