@article{ref1,
title="Ketamine and international regulations",
journal="American journal of drug and alcohol abuse encompassing all addictive disorders",
year="2017",
author="Liao, Yanhui and Tang, Yi-Lang and Hao, Wei",
volume="43",
number="5",
pages="495-504",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Ketamine is an anesthetic commonly used in low-income countries and has recently been shown to be effective for treatment-resistant depression. However, the illicit manufacturing, trafficking, and nonmedical use of ketamine are increasing globally, and its illicit use poses major public health challenges in many countries. <br><br>OBJECTIVES: To review the nonmedical use of ketamine in selected countries and its regulatory control. <br><br>METHODS: We conducted a review of literature identified from searches of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) (1979-2016) and PubMed databases, supplemented by additional references identified by the authors. Special attention was given to the regulation of ketamine. <br><br>RESULTS: Illicit manufacturing, trafficking, and use of ketamine appear to have begun on a large scale in several Asian nations, and it has subsequently spread to other regions. Regulations governing availability of ketamine vary across countries, but there is a clear trend toward tighter regulations. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: As nonmedical use of ketamine and its harmful consequences have worsened globally, stricter controls are necessary. Appropriate regulation of ketamine is important for international efforts to control ketamine's cross-border trafficking and its nonmedical use.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0095-2990",
doi="10.1080/00952990.2016.1278449",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2016.1278449"
}