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Ketamine use more than doubles in Australia from 2020 to 2025, with increased recreational use on weekends

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Study Reveals Sharp Rise in Recreational Ketamine Use in Australia

A comprehensive wastewater study spanning from 2020 to 2025 has documented a significant increase in ketamine consumption across Australia. The research indicates a shift from primarily medical use towards recreational patterns.

The average daily ketamine detection rose from 2.7mg per 1000 people in December 2020 to 5.8mg in April 2025.

Key Findings of the Wastewater Analysis

Conducted by a team from the University of Adelaide, the study detected clear patterns of elevated ketamine excretion on weekends. This weekend spike strongly indicates increased recreational or non-medical use of the drug.

The largest doses were identified in affluent areas and inner-city locations. In 2020, wastewater detections were largely consistent with prescribed medical uses, but the emergence of weekend patterns later pointed decisively to non-medical consumption.

Professor Cobus Gerber from the University of Adelaide's School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences stated that these wastewater patterns suggest a clear increase in the recreational use of ketamine.

The Rise of 'Kitty Flipping' and Associated Risks

The trend coincides with a recent rise in Australian online searches for the term 'kitty flipping'—a practice that refers to combining ketamine with MDMA (ecstasy), typically by taking MDMA first.

Combining these drugs carries specific and serious health risks.

  • Temperature Dysregulation: MDMA raises body temperature and heart rate, while ketamine impairs the body's ability to regulate temperature. This combination can lead to dangerously high and unstable body temperatures.
  • Serotonin Syndrome: The mix can cause a potentially deadly buildup of serotonin in the body.
  • Cardiac Strain: The combination places significant strain on the heart.
  • Unpredictable Effects: MDMA slows digestion, which can delay or unexpectedly intensify the effects of both drugs.

It is important to note that pill testing facilities at Australian festivals cannot test how MDMA and ketamine will interact. In the United States, the popularity of 'kitty flipping' has been associated with a rise in ketamine-related overdoses.

Broader Context and Concerns

The use of ketamine as a party drug has risen in Australia, mirroring trends observed in the United States. Ketamine is a pharmaceutical drug used legitimately as an anesthetic and for treating severe pain and depression. When used in controlled medical settings, it is considered safe and effective.

Supporting the wastewater data, the Australian Border Force has reported an increasing number of attempts to illegally import ketamine. Experts are calling for more research to track the origins of these drugs within Australia.