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Mysterious NEW drug called ‘CanKet’ pops up in Australia – discovered on first pill testing site – giving users an ‘out-of-body experience’
- Scientists at a pill-testing site in Canberra discovered the ketamine-like drug
- The drug, called ‘Canket’, is similar to ketamine, but its effects are unknown
- Studies warn users of possible ‘significant psychological effects’
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Australian scientists have issued an urgent warning following the discovery of a mysterious and potentially dangerous new drug dubbed the ‘cousin of ketamine’.
The substance was discovered by scientists at the Australian National University on CanTEST, the country’s first pill testing site.
Scientists named the unknown substance ‘CanKet’ because it was found in Canberra and had similar properties to ketamine – a horse tranquilizer commonly used by humans as an illegal party drug.
Scientists at the Australian National University have discovered a mysterious new recreational drug they’ve never seen before in Australia, which they’ve dubbed ‘CanKet’ (pictured)
Professor Malcolm McLeod of the Australian National University said someone presented a bag of crystals and powder for testing after experiencing “very different” effects from taking the drug.
“They told us they thought it was ketamine, but the effects of the drug were very different than they expected, so they wanted us to test it,” McLeod said.
‘But when we tested the substance, it was clear that it was not ketamine, but a ketamine-like substance.
“Our first reaction was, ‘Wow, this is really weird’. We have no idea who made the medicine or where it came from, but we now know it’s there.”
Ketamine, a drug taken orally, injected or snorted, can cause a user to enter a state called a “K-hole” — described by ANU scientists as a state of dissociation similar to an out-of-body experience.
Professor McLeod explained that making small changes to the toxicology of a drug has major effects and warned users of the substance about the unknown results.
“It’s so new that we just don’t have any information we can give people about this drug,” McLeod said.
“Nothing is known about the clinical effects on consumers, and as it is something new, we urge caution. You can make pretty small changes to a drug and see some pretty dramatic changes in its effects.”
“This can have significant psychological effects.”
The new drug was discovered by scientists at Australia’s first dust testing site in Canberra when a user brought in a sample after experiencing ‘very different’ effects when used (pictured)
Scientists warned anyone who buys the ketamine-like product about the unknown results and possible ‘significant psychological effects’ after use
The drug testing site has registered five presentations of the drug “CanKet” since August and has only been identified twice before — once at the Canadian border and once in a Chinese lab.
David Caldicott, an associate professor of the Australian National University, discovered the “cousin of ketamine” and proved CanTEST’s services were “invaluable” to the community.
“It allows us to identify never-before-seen drugs, as well as common drugs, and give people using the service clear guidance about the likely health and other effects of these drugs.
“This could potentially save lives.”
In the past two months, CanTEST has tested more than 150 samples, 34 of which were discarded once the owner understood the contents of their drug.
September results showed that one sample of cocaine contained dimethyl sulfone, an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent, while another sample believed to be methamphetamine was actually sugar.
CanTEST Health and Drug Checking Service is a free and confidential health and harm reduction service.
The service is a collaboration between Directions Health Services, Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimization and Advocacy, Pill Testing Australia and is funded by ACT Health with advice from scientists from the Australian National University.
This month, CanTEST released two community announcements after discovering ingredients in samples believed to be ketamine and MDMA.