New York prosecutors have reopened an investigation into allegations by a former Cornell University student that she was drugged and raped by seven students at a campus fraternity in 2024.
asserted
she → reopen → 2024
The woman alleged in a lawsuit that the rape began after members of the fraternity pressured her into snorting ketamine.
asserted
members → allege → ketamine
Ketamine is a powerful anesthetic commonly used in veterinary medicine as a tranquilizer for horses.
asserted
Ketamine → use → horses
In human medicine it is used as a treatment for depression and in sedation for surgical procedures – but is also used illegally for recreational purposes.
asserted
it → use → purposes
When taken recreationally, it has hallucinogenic effects, distorting perceptions of sight and sound and making users feel not in control.
asserted
users → take → control
And the number of Americans taking ketamine recreationally has risen in recent years, jumping up 40 percent from 2021 to 2022, according to the latest federal data.
uncertain
number → take → data
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that can help provide pain relief and induce amnesia.
asserted
that → help → amnesia
Just a few minutes after taking the drug, users may experience an increase in heart rate and blood pressure that gradually decreases over the next 10 to 20 minutes, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
uncertain
that → take → Agency
It is produced commercially in the U.S., and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for this use, as well as for treatment-resistant depression.
asserted
It → produce → depression
But the drug is also abused for these effects and has been used to facilitate sexual assault, the DEA says.
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DEA → abuse → assault
Ketamine is illegal for recreational use and is listed as a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act.
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Ketamine → list → Act
It has also been used as a date rape drug.
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It → use → drug
Possession of ketamine can lead to a prison sentence.
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Possession → lead → sentence
Studies have suggested that recreational use of ketamine is on the rise in the U.S.
Common street names for the drug include Cat Tranquilizer, Cat Valium, Jet K, Kit Kat, Purple, Special K, Special La Coke, Super Acid, Super K and Vitamin K.
Most of the ketamine illegally distributed in the U.S. is diverted or stolen from veterinary clinics and other legitimate sources or smuggled into the country from Mexico.
How is it used?
uncertain
it → suggest → Mexico
Ketamine comes in a clear liquid or as a white or off-white powder.
asserted
Ketamine → come → powder
Powdered ketamine is snorted or smoked, while liquid ketamine is injected or mixed into drinks.
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ketamine → powder → drinks
Sometimes, ketamine is combined with other drugs, including MDMA, amphetamine, methamphetamine or cocaine.
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ketamine → combine → MDMA
The effects of ketamine are usually felt between one and 30 minutes after taking the drug and last for around an hour, according to Canada's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
uncertain
effects → feel → Addiction
Ketamine can make users unresponsive to the senses.
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users → make → senses
When in this state, people experience involuntary rapid eye movement, dilated pupils, salivation, tear secretions, and stiffening of the muscles.
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people → experience → muscles
The drug can also cause nausea, agitation, depression and cognitive difficulties.
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drug → cause → nausea
An overdose can cause unconsciousness and dangerously slowed breathing.
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overdose → cause → unconsciousness
Use by celebrities
Elon Musk has publicly discussed his prescription for ketamine, telling CNN that the drug helps him alleviate a “negative chemical mind state,” adding that investors in his companies should want him to keep taking it.
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him → discuss → it
He said: “There are times when I have sort of a … negative chemical state in my brain, like depression I guess, or depression that’s not linked to any negative news, and ketamine is helpful for getting one out of the negative frame of mind.”
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ketamine → say → mind
Musk told CNN that he got the drug from “an actual, real doctor” and that he took it about “once every other week.”
Friends actor Matthew Perry died in October 2023 partly from the effects of ketamine.
At the time, he was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy to address mental health problems.
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he → tell → problems
Comedian and actor Pete Davidson has said he abused ketamine before getting treatment for drug abuse, revealing he was high on the drug at Aretha Franklin’s funeral in 2018.
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he → say → 2018
In 2021 Sharon Osbourne said she underwent ketamine therapy to get through a “difficult patch” following her departure from The View.
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she → say → View
The former Cornell University student who has filed a lawsuit accusing seven men of raping her said she was pressured into snorting a white powder she believed to be ketamine.
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she → file → powder
She claims that during her ordeal the men snorted the drug off her body.
uncertain
men → claim → body
Reporting of the allegations have revived a national conversation about sexual assault and campus fraternities.
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Reporting → revive → assault
The lawsuit also names the men’s fraternity, the university and her sorority.
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lawsuit → name → fraternity
The men have denied any wrongdoing.
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men → deny → wrongdoing
On Thursday New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed State Attorney General Letitia James to lead an “active criminal investigation” into the case, saying police and local prosecutors had previously “failed” the accuser, known as Jane Doe to protect her anonymity.
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police → appoint → anonymity
For those affected by rape and sexual abuse, if you are in the United States, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673).
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you → affect → HOPE
Rape Crisis also offers support.
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Crisis → offer → support
You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk.
asserted
You → call → www.rapecrisis.org.uk
The Aporia
