It’s a drug you see doctors on “The Pitt” give patients in the ER for pain relief or sedation. 

It’s also what cast members on the reality show “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” take to connect with their spouses.  

And it's what some Americans use to treat their depression. 

Ketamine has gotten negative press in the past few years, like in 2023, when “Friends” co-star Matthew Perry died from “the acute effects of ketamine.”

We sat down with a doctor to learn more about this substance that’s showing up more and more in popular culture …and in Seattle, which is home to several ketamine clinics.

This is part of our recurring “Ask a Doctor” segment, where we ask medical professionals to help us understand health news and trends. 

Guest: Dr. Nathan Sackett, an assistant professor in the University of Washington School of Medicine and addiction psychiatrist

Related links: 

• She Hoped Ketamine Would Rewire Her Brain. She Didn’t Live to See It Work. | WSJ
• Center for Novel Therapeutics in Addiction Psychiatry
• As ketamine clinics emerge in Seattle to treat mental illness, so does debate about safety and regulations | The Seattle Times
• Ketamine Use on the Rise in U.S. Adults; New Trends Emerge | UC San Diego Today

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible!

Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you want from the show, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback.

Also, if you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.