Trends and characteristics in ketamine use among US adults with and without depression, 2015-2022

Ketamine's potential for treating depression has drawn increased clinical interest in recent years. However, despite growing therapeutic use, recreational use among individuals with depression remain underexplored.

We analyzed data from the 2015-2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health focusing on adults in the US. Trends in past-year ketamine use, overall and by depression status, were estimated separately for 2015-2019 and 2021-2022 due to methodological changes in the survey. We also delineated correlates of ketamine use in each period, focusing on depression, sociodemographic characteristics, and other past-year drug use.

Overall ketamine use prevalence increased from 2015 to 2019 (from 0.11 % to 0.20 %, an 81.8 % increase, p < 0.01) and from 2021 to 2022 (from 0.20 % to 0.28 %, a 40.0 % increase, p < 0.05). From 2015 to 2019, use increased among adults with and without depression (by 139.3 % [p < 0.05] and 66.7 % [p < 0.05], respectively), while from 2021 to 2022, an increase occurred only among those without depression (by 38.9 %, p < 0.05). Multivariable models revealed that depression was associated with increased odds of ketamine use in 2015-2019 (aOR = 1.80, 95 % CI: 1.12-2.89) but not in later years. New sociodemographic correlates emerged in 2021-2022, including adults aged 26-34 and those with a college degree being at higher odds for use. Various drugs (especially ecstasy/MDMA and gamma-hydroxybutyrate) were consistently associated with higher odds of use.

We identified differential patterns and correlates of ketamine use over time. Shifts may be related to the evolving ketamine landscape and/or changing survey methodology. Monitoring of use patterns is crucial to inform prevention and harm reduction strategies.