Self-administered ketamine 92 times in three months… Veterinarian caught on drugs

A veterinarian at an animal hospital in the metropolitan area was caught by the authorities on suspicion of stealing ketamine, a medical narcotic, and self-administering the drug 92 times from July to September of this year.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 11th that it had transferred veterinarian A, who purchased a large amount of ketamine and habitually administered it in the clinic and pharmacy in the hospital instead of using it for animal treatment, to the Seoul Central District Public Prosecution Office on charges of violating the law on the management of narcotics.

According to the results of an investigation through CCTV inside the hospital, Mr. A illegally administered a total of 254 mL (milliliter) worth of ketamine over a period of three months starting in July. I also self-administered approximately 1mL of ketamine up to 6 times a day.

In addition, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety reported that it was confirmed that self-administered ketamine was falsely recorded as if it had been administered to animals and that pets were treated while ketamine was administered.

Ketamine is a general anesthetic and psychotropic drug used to induce and maintain general anesthesia and relieve pain, and is also called a ‘club drug.’

It was found that Mr. A intentionally omitted reports of handling narcotics such as fentanyl patches, ketamine, butorphanol, and phentermine at the veterinary hospital from November of last year to July of this year.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's medical drug special surveillance team conducted an on-site investigation and mandatory investigation based on a public interest tip about Mr. A received in August of this year.

The surveillance team requested the National Institute of Forensic Science to examine Mr. A's hair and urine, proving that Mr. A had taken drugs.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety explained that complaints have been filed against the animal hospital run by Mr. A due to its poor sanitary conditions.

At the time of the search and seizure by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's drug investigation team, it was reported that 76 empty 10mL ketamine bottles and 100 insulin syringes purchased from 2023 to the end of August 2026 were left unattended in the pharmacy, operating room, clinic, and director's lounge.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety notified the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of Mr. A's drug crimes.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is seeking to strengthen surveillance at veterinary hospitals where medical narcotic prescriptions are increasing.

An official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said, "Medical drugs purchased for medical purposes at veterinary hospitals, etc. must be stored in a double safe with a lock," and "The history of drug purchase and use must be reported to the integrated drug management system."

He added, “For animal hospitals that handle a lot of narcotics, we will closely analyze the usage and medication history, and conduct intensive surveillance with local governments by the end of the year for animal hospitals where there are concerns of inappropriate handling.”