Skip to main content

2015 to 2022 Saw Rise in Ketamine Use

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Jan 14, 2025.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2025 -- There have been shifts in both the patterns and correlates of ketamine use from 2015 to 2022, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Kevin H. Yang, M.D., from the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues used data from the 2015 to 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to examine trends in past-year ketamine use by depression status.

The researchers found that overall ketamine use prevalence increased from 2015 to 2019 (from 0.11 to 0.20 percent; an 81.8 percent increase) and from 2021 to 2022 (from 0.20 to 0.28 percent; a 40.0 percent increase). Use increased from 2015 to 2019 among adults with and without depression (by 139.3 and 66.7 percent, respectively). From 2021 to 2022, an increase occurred only among those without depression (by 38.9 percent). Depression was associated with increased odds of ketamine use in the 2015 to 2019 period (adjusted odds ratio, 1.80) but not in later years. From 2021 to 2022, adults aged 26 to 34 years and those with a college degree had higher odds for use. Higher odds of use were also consistently seen with use of various other drugs, including ecstasy/MDMA and gamma-hydroxybutyrate.

"Monitoring of use patterns is crucial to inform prevention and harm reduction strategies," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted January 2025

Read this next

Prior Military Sexual Trauma Linked to Late-Life Suicide Attempt

THURSDAY, May 1, 2025 -- Prior military sexual trauma (MST) is associated with late-life suicide attempt and death by suicide or overdose, according to a study published online...

Recent Years Saw Increase in Youth With Anxiety, Depression

MONDAY, April 28, 2025 -- From 2016 to 2022, there was an increase in the proportion of youth who experienced anxiety or depression, according to a research letter published...

USPSTF Recommends Counseling to Prevent Perinatal Depression

FRIDAY, April 25, 2025 -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends counseling for women at increased risk for perinatal depression (PND). This recommendation...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.