Prosecutors in New York have recently reopened an investigation into allegations made by a former Cornell University student who claims she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven men at a fraternity house two years ago. The woman alleges that two fraternity members pressured her to snort ketamine, a short-acting anesthetic, which left her incapacitated and unable to resist the attack, which reportedly lasted several hours.
The alleged assault has brought renewed attention to ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic that has gained popularity in recent years, both as a treatment for mental health disorders and as a recreational drug. The woman has filed a lawsuit against Cornell University, the fraternity and sorority involved, and the seven men accused of assault. Representatives for at least three of the accused men have denied any criminal wrongdoing, while others have not released statements.
The victim acknowledged consuming a substantial amount of alcohol before the incident but emphasized that it was the ketamine that caused her incapacitation. Despite her report to campus police, local prosecutors initially declined to bring charges. Ketamine’s ability to induce an immobilized yet aware state—commonly referred to by recreational users as a “K-hole”—can result in partial or full memory loss of events that occurred during intoxication.
Ketamine, synthesized in the 1960s and regulated as a Schedule III controlled substance in the United States, is legally used in medical and veterinary settings, including as an anesthetic for children. In 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a nasal spray derivative called esketamine for treatment-resistant depression. However, psychiatric use of ketamine remains largely unregulated, leading to widespread availability for both therapeutic and nonmedical purposes. Experts warn that unsupervised use, especially combined with alcohol or other medications, poses significant health risks.
Dr. Patrick Giam, president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, cautioned against at-home ketamine therapy kits, stressing that the drug should only be administered under medical supervision due to the potential for serious complications.
Ketamine’s emergence as a tool for drug-facilitated sexual assault is a relatively recent development. Unlike more commonly cited date-rape drugs such as GHB or Rohypnol, ketamine’s effects appear within minutes and generally last less than an hour. However, repeated dosing can prolong incapacitation. The drug can be ingested as a powder, commonly snorted, or liquid, which can be covertly added to beverages.
Sexual violence experts report an increase in ketamine-related assaults, noting that many victims also consume alcohol or other substances voluntarily prior to incidents. Emily Miles, executive director of the Alliance Against Sexual Violence, highlighted that intoxication does not imply consent and emphasized the challenges survivors face in recalling fragmented memories caused by ketamine-induced amnesia. This often delays reporting and complicates investigations.
While data on ketamine misuse remain limited, some treatment centers have observed a rising number of young individuals seeking help for ketamine dependency. Daniel Sexton, program manager at a Northeastern drug treatment network, noted that despite perceptions of ketamine as safer than opioids or alcohol, it can lead to serious addiction and adverse effects.
Authorities and advocates emphasize the importance of well-informed law enforcement training to better support survivors who may have incomplete memories due to drug-facilitated assaults.