Norway has banned the possession of ketamine for non-medical purposes in early 2026, making it one of the first European countries to take legislative action against a drug that has rapidly become a fixture of the continent's party scene. Originally developed as a pain medication and anaesthetic, and now increasingly used to treat depression, ketamine's hallucinogenic properties have made it enormously popular at raves and clubs across Europe in recent years.
On the black market, ketamine is now cheaper than alcohol, and many users believe it is less harmful than other recreational drugs. But medical professionals say they are wrong. Dr. Aina Mumby, whose first-aid team treats overdoses at major raves during the summer season, explains that users can reach a state called a K-hole, where they lose complete control. Those are usually brief episodes, but people collapse. And it is hardly any different from other critical drug conditions, she said.
The scale of the problem is illustrated by the dramatic increase in seizures by Norwegian customs officers. We used to have one piece of mail containing five to six grams at most, a customs official told ABC News. In 2025, we intercepted whole packages, each containing up to five kilograms of ketamine. We are clearly witnessing a new trend. Most of the drug enters Norway illegally in the form of pills, usually sent through the postal system.
Despite the ban, Norway's political opposition believes the government's drug policies remain too liberal. Ketamine can trigger things like fear and paranoia. It affects our children, who will then need treatment. That must stop. We cannot let this go on, said one opposition lawmaker, calling for even stricter measures to stem the flow of the drug into the country.
Medical experts warn that the most serious long-term consequence of ketamine abuse is irreversible damage to the bladder, a condition that can drastically reduce quality of life and for which there is no effective treatment. The damage occurs gradually, often without users realising until the condition has become severe and permanent.
One former user described how quickly the drug can become addictive. At some point, I realised that every time my ketamine stash ran out, I immediately had to buy more. I consumed it every evening, and at some point, I understood I had gotten addicted. I just had to stop, he said, adding that Norway's long winters and widespread feelings of loneliness make drugs like ketamine particularly appealing to vulnerable individuals.
The Norwegian ban comes amid growing concern across Europe about the spread of ketamine use beyond traditional club settings into mainstream social contexts. Public health officials across the continent are grappling with how to regulate a substance that has legitimate medical applications while preventing its misuse as a recreational drug that is leaving a trail of serious health consequences in its wake.