Latest news with #RhinoKet
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Young Brits risking lives with new 'rhino ket' drug featured in Kneecap song
Parents are learning about the potentially deadly drug, which is ketamine amped up with amphetamines, after it was featured in a song by popular rap group Kneecap Young Brits are risking their lives over a deadly "Rhino Ket" drug featured in a song by rap group Kneecap, health chiefs have warned. Health officials in Scotland have warned that use of the drug, a turbo-charged version of Ketamine mixed with amphetamines, is highly dangerous. The substance was famously featured in one of the Irish group's most famous anthems, simply titled 'Rhino Ket' and has parents worried it may be influencing their children. But usage has climbed over the last several years before the group released their song describing the drug that "makes you forget". Officials have monitored an explosion in usage of the drug since it entered the supply chain several years ago, with reports noting it has become increasingly prevalent. In a recent report, Public Health Scotland (PHS) Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) identified Rhino Ket as a fast emerging trend. The report warns that police are increasingly encountering mentions of the drug, and that it is one of several potentially deadly emerging trends. The RADAR 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 term entered the music world with Kneecap's 2024 song of the same name, in which the rappers speak about "sittin here sober like a d**k". The lyrics continue: '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.' Parents have recently started discovering the drug through their children, with one mum saying she found out about the substance after her teen son came home claiming he had been spiked. Speaking to the Daily Record, the unnamed parent said the 16-year-old returned home after getting "in a state one night" saying someone "had given him Rhino Ket". She said: '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." Another ketamine-based drug combination known as Calvin Klein - a narcotics cocktail combining cocaine and ketamine - has also raised alarm bells, with almost 20 alerts issued regarding the comvination last year.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Young Scots risking their lives with 'rhino ket' drug craze glorified by Kneecap
Scottish health bosses have warned of the rapid emergence of the drug. 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. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 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.'
