Esketamine Drug DUI Cases Will Become An Issue in Arizona
It is well established that Depression is a common and serious health problem. According to the World Health Organization the disease affects more than 264 million people.
Common Depression Treatments
Depression treatments typically include antidepressant medications that fall in a class of drugs known as serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). These drugs attempt to strengthen the brain’s circuitry.
Common Problems
One, among several, issues with these treatments is that SSRI’s commonly take seven (7) to fourteen (14) days to begin to reduce symptoms. People suffering from depression need a faster remedy.
A new drug has emerged that may solve this problem – a form of ketamine called Esketamine. After a three study there is evidence that Esketamine have been effective in rapidly mitigating treatment-resistant depression.
Ketamine Has Been Around
Ketamine was developed in the 1960’s as an anesthetic. During the Vietnam War Ketamine was used in the as the field anesthetic (in many instances for soldiers suffering from PTSD). Ketamine is also a staple drug in Veterinary Medicine.
Now There is Esketamine
Like most medications the presence of Esketamine will remain in a person’s body after the any potential effects have subsided. Moreover, a person can have a legal prescription for Esketamine – but is show up as a prohibited drug (a crime in and of itself in Arizona) – as Ketamine.
Crime Laboratories & Esketamine
A crime laboratory will have to conduct a special isomer analysis to distinguish the new prescription antidepressant Esketamine from Ketamine. As of 2020, there are currently no Arizona crime labs set up to conduct this kind of testing.