Kids procuring ketamine on Instagram, Snapchat to get ‘cheap high’

Young teens are sneaking the dangerous “easy to get” ketamine drug to school formals and parties to get on a “cheap good high”.

Kids are abusing ketamine procured on Instagram and Snapchat in order to get high.

Young teens are sneaking the dangerous “easy to get” ketamine drug to school formals and parties to get on a “cheap good high”.

The horse tranquilliser ketamine also known as ‘Special K’ or ‘horse tranc’, is increasingly being used as a party drug for students.

“Heaps of students sneak it into school formals and parties. It’s so easy to get on Instagram or Snapchat,” one student from Melbourne’s inner east said.

“It’s much cheaper than coke,” another student said.

“Kids who are underage use it to get high if they can’t get their hands on booze,” he said.

“It makes you feel a bit trippy but it’s a good high.”

1g of ketamine costs $180 to $200, in comparison to 1g of cocaine which ranges between $300 to $400.

Last month the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) revealed that its wastewater analysis program was studying ketamine use for the first time – with early findings showing it is used more in Victoria than any other state.

“The (wastewater analysis) program is structured in a way (that) ensures it can evolve in line with trends in drug markets,” ACIC CEO Michael Phelan said at the time.

“This is why the ACIC has now added ketamine to the lists of substances monitored by the program.”

It can also be revealed kids as young as five have been involved in drug-related incidents, shocking new figures reveal.

Documents released to the Sunday Herald Sun by the Education Department under Freedom of Information laws can reveal almost 300 primary and secondary aged children have been involved in drug-related incidents in the schoolyard.

It is understood incidents reported include drug use and dealing in the schoolyard and other incidents such as children accidentally bringing drugs to school.

The data revealed four primary school pupils – one of them in Grade 1 – were involved in drug-related incidents.

Since 2019, 92 Year 11 students have been involved in incidents, 61 in Year 10 and 55 in Year 12.

Police were also informed or involved in more than 70 per cent of the incidents involving students, the data revealed.

Dr Rachel Sutherland, Lead of the Drug Trends Program at National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), said some people use ketamine recreationally for its euphoric and hallucinogenic effects.

“At higher doses, ketamine depresses consciousness and breathing and there can be a significant risk of overdose if combined with other depressants,” Dr Sutherland said.

“Using ketamine on a regular basis can cause bladder and kidney problems, and prolonged heavy use can result in ‘ketamine bladder’ (swelling of the kidney due to urine flow obstruction.”

Parents Victoria executive officer Gail McHardy said drugs, alcohol and vaping remained an issue for schools, students and their families.

“The statistics reaffirmed that the prevalence of incidents occur and rise from Year 8,” Ms McHardy said.

“The reports in the primary school years, in our experience, can be a child accessing a substance without parent knowledge or approval (bringing it and showing it to another child at school).”

An Education Department spokesman said the health and safety of students was always the top priority.

“There is no place for drugs in our schools,” he said.