Illicit Ketamine Use Doubled Between 2015 & 2022

The estimated prevalence of illicit ketamine use among adults in the United States with and without depression more than doubled between 2015 and 2022, from 0.11% to 0.28%. Among those with depression, illicit use of ketamine increased by 139.3%, from 0.28% to 0.67%. Among those without depression, illicit ketamine use increased by 77.8%, from 0.09% to 0.16%.

Overall past-year recreational ketamine use increased by 81.8% from 2015 to 2019, and by 40% from 2021 to 2022. Adults with depression were 80% more likely to have used ketamine in the past . . .