Young Scots risking their lives with 'rhino ket' drug craze glorified by Kneecap
Young Scots are risking their lives with a 'rhino ket' drug craze that has surged after rappers Kneecap glorified it in their music.
Scottish health bosses have warned of the rapid emergence of the drug, which turbo-charges the horse tranquilliser drug ketamine by adding amphetamine.
The mix has been appearing more and more in Scotland, leading to fears of addiction and death among those who take it.
One mother contacted the Daily Record after her 16-year-old son sought out the drug after getting into the controversial Kneecap rap act –whose song Rhino Ket is one of their top anthems.
The mum said: 'My boy never touched drugs before watching the Kneecap movie last year and they were banging on about stuff like 'going down the K-hole'.
'He got in a state one night and could hardly talk when he got home. His face was bashed and he said someone had given him rhino ket, which was new to me. We found out that it's ketamine mixed with amphetamine and it's hugely dangerous.'
She added: 'I'm a liberal person but when I looked at the lyrics in the Kneecap song it was basically telling young people to take this drug. It's not on because this drug is designed to make people behave in a way that exposes them to danger.'
Rhino ket has been in the Scottish supply chain for several years but its increased prevalence in drug reports prompted Public Health Scotland to issue a specific alert. In PHS's latest Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) identifies the drug as a fast emerging trend, according to data shared by Police Scotland.
The report states: ''Rhino ket' is terminology the police have been encountering more frequently. This term is sometimes used to describe a mixture of ketamine and amphetamine, which are taken together to increase the effects.'
The RADAR report also identifies 'speedballing' – the combined use of crack cocaine and heroin – as another potentially deadly emerging trend.
The song 'Rhino Ket', from the album 'Fine Art', is part of the Kneecap movie's soundtrack and celebrates being 'K-holed off my head'.
The lyrics include: 'Recently I heard a secret, there's this thing called Rhinoceros Ket. When you take a line it makes you forget (Sounds great). Bally up and lets rob a vet (Sweet)'.
It goes on: 'Can't sit, can't think, can barely even walk, dunno how the f*** we'll make it back to Falls. I'm K-Holed off my head, this s*** puts Rhinos to bed.'
Ketamine is often found as an off-white crystalline powder. Effects include euphoria, hallucinations and dissociative sensations. But it also causes panic attacks and sometimes an inability to move, known as a 'k-hole'.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that young Scots are risking heart attacks by taking cocaine and ketamine in a mix dubbed Calvin Klein. Almost 20 alerts about rising use of the lethal narcotics cocktail were flagged to Public Health Scotland.
Almost 300,000 people in the UK between the ages of 16 and 59 reported using the drug in the year up to March 2023 – the biggest number on record, according to the Home Office. In 2019, 17-year-old violin prodigy Katya Tsukanova died of a suspected overdose after apparently taking the fatal 'Calvin Klein' mix in London.
In NHS Lothian, there was an increase in under-25s taking a highly potent batch of the drug named rhino ket – leaving them suffering from heart palpitations and mouth ulcers. In Fife, a series of drug deaths were suspected to be from ketamine, as well as 'multiple overdoses in people aged under 25 in several locations, needing ambulance service after collapse'.
Another instance resulted in 'serious, unexpected adverse effects including amnesia and seizures.' Elsewhere, officials noted young people turned to the deadly CK mix after hearing a number of high-profile cases of youngsters dying from taking MDMA pills.
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A spokeswoman for Fife Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) said it was is aware of the risks associated with the unprescribed use of ketamine and remains committed to a proactive and preventative approach in tackling substance-related harm.
The spokeswoman said: 'We work closely with a range of partners across Fife, including third sector organisations and statutory services, to ensure a broad network of support is available to those who need it. Our team meets weekly to monitor emerging issues and respond quickly to any potential harms.
'In addition, we hold monthly meetings focused on reviewing local substance trends and identifying practical actions to reduce risk and protect the health and wellbeing of our communities.'
Superintendent Joanne McEwan, of Police Scotland, said: 'Police Scotland works in partnership with a wide range of national and international partners and law enforcement agencies to monitor trends and emerging threats, and share intelligence to help address the number of recorded drug deaths in Scotland. We support ongoing initiatives which aim to reduce the harm associated with problematic drug use.
'Officers from local policing and specialist divisions work tirelessly to remove illegal drugs from communities every day and remain committed to disrupting the activities of those organised criminals who supply drugs and continue their work to ensure Scotland is a hostile environment for them to operate.
'We can't tackle this issue alone and would urge the public to continue supporting us in building intelligence about the possession and supply of drugs by contacting Police Scotland on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.'
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