Party drugs go through cycles of popularity and obscurity, with ketamine emerging as the current substance of choice for young clubbers across the continent. The increased attention it’s received in the media of late means mainstream awareness and scrutiny are also rising.
So, when did this contentious narcotic first gain traction, and will it become even more ingrained in Europe’s club scene, or is it a fad with a limited time in the spotlight?
Back to the Clinical Beginning
Ketamine emerged from veterinary care, where its use in anaesthesia for horses, in particular, became commonplace from the 1960s onward. The dissociative feelings brought on by the drug meant its eventual transition into recreational use was inevitable, and it built momentum very slowly over the ensuing decades, although it was generally eclipsed by established party drugs like LSD and cocaine in the 70s and 80s.
London Calling
It was the clubs of the UK in the 1990s, especially in the capital, London, that put wind in ketamine’s sails. Ravers who’d been up all night taking ecstasy would then incorporate ketamine into their comedown routine, tapering off their high as opposed to having it crash to a halt.
Building on a base of popularity in Britain, ketamine is among the most popular drugs among the UK’s young population to this day. That’s why demand for services that help with detoxing from ketamine is also at an all-time high. This party drug does serious harm to the bladder, as well as leaving psychological scars, so its current fashionableness isn’t good news.
Berlin Enters the Chat
Taking the lead from London and elevating it to a new level, Berlin was where ketamine achieved further notoriety in the 2000s, with the city’s world-class club scene proving a fertile breeding ground for a drug that fuels endurance-level partying sessions.
It’s no surprise that the rise of ketamine in Europe over the past couple of decades has coincided with an increased appetite for minimalist techno. Music built on relatively simple loops and beat repetition gels well with the mindstate induced by the drug. Users can feel like they’re having an out-of-body experience, and they have trouble perceiving the passage of time, making it a good fit for clubbing in the 2000s, the 2010s, and today.
Festivals Find Favour
Ketamine’s chokehold on European club culture overlaps with its proliferation at music festivals. And it’s not just techno and dance music events that host an increasing number of users. In fact, all genres seem to have a subset of fans who want to partake in it and enter the k-hole during festivals, despite the known health dangers.
So, while ketamine might not have a history that’s as closely intertwined with clubbing as other party drugs, we’re arguably at the point where it is at its height. How it’s used today will determine whether it remains en vogue in years to come, and the healthcare implications of this could prompt policy changes in many EU countries, as well as the UK.
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