Ketamine's Role in Sexual Assaults Highlighted Amid Cornell Allegations

Allegations of a gang rape at a Cornell University fraternity have drawn attention to the illicit use of ketamine as a date-rape drug, with experts warning of its potential to incapacitate victims.

A former Cornell student described to the university's hearing panel that ketamine left her feeling in a state of "vague consciousness," where "the lights were on, but no one was home."

Dr. Stephanie Widmer, an addiction specialist and Fox News contributor, explained that the drug's physiological effects can prevent individuals from defending themselves or understanding their environment. "You can essentially have no awareness of your surroundings," Widmer stated.

Ketamine, an anesthetic, affects NMDA receptors in the brain, potentially altering vital signs. "It can cause profound sedation, and it can cause dissociation, which is essentially the sensation of your brain not really being attached to your body," Widmer said.

While ketamine has legitimate medical uses and is FDA-approved for anesthesia, it is also abused recreationally. The Drug Enforcement Administration classifies it as a Schedule III controlled substance and lists it alongside Rohypnol and GHB as drugs that can be used to facilitate sexual assault. These substances are known to cause sedation, confusion, and memory loss, making victims vulnerable.

Widmer noted that ketamine's ability to affect a person's "sensorium" contributes to its classification as a date-rape drug. She also cautioned against mixing ketamine with alcohol or other substances, which can intensify its effects and increase the risk of dangerous sedation and respiratory depression.

"They’re combining them with other substances, they’re combining them with alcohol, and that can compound the effects of these drugs," Widmer said. "It can cause really profound sedation. It can be incredibly dangerous."

Experts stress the importance of educating young adults, particularly those heading to college, about the specific dangers of such drugs, beyond general warnings. "Everybody knows to say drugs are bad and not to do drugs and you never know what you’re getting, but really understanding what some of these drugs can do is really important ... that they’re not benign and that they can cause dissociation," Widmer advised.