#TestIt Alert: Substance Marketed as Ketamine in Bay Area Tests Inconclusively
Last Updated: August 1, 2022
By: DanceSafe Staff
A community member has submitted information to DanceSafe regarding a substance sourced by a “friend of a friend” in the San Francisco, CA Bay Area that is being marketed and sold as ketamine, described as a “white powder, fluffy, not dissimilar from cocaine.” The submitter used seven reagents to test the substance with the following reactions (see pictured):
- Marquis: Pale yellow, pink tinges (bottom lefthand corner)
- Mecke: Slightly darker yellow, moving to gold (middle left)
- Mandelin: Dark green (top left)
- Simon’s A/B: No reaction (bottom righthand corner)
- Liebermann: Brown (middle right)
- Froehde: Dark teal/blue, slowly developed a creamy color upon further exposure (top right)
- Folin A/B: Maybe a pale yellow, but not much reaction (center)
The community member remarked that the first time the substance was tested using the same reagents as above, they were “pretty sure it was MDPV,” but the reaction wasn’t so clear when the test was conducted again (pictured). This may be due to uneven adulteration in the substance, which would cause different reactions to the same reagents when tested at different times. These test results are inconclusive.
We urge our community to keep in mind that drug markets are expansive and these substances may appear in locations other than the submission’s origins. Always test before you ingest to avoid ingesting misrepresented substances. Purchase your DanceSafe drug checking kit here.
If you test a misrepresented substance, please submit it to testit@dancesafe.org to be featured in a #TestIt Alert.
Since 1998, DanceSafe has been keeping the electronic music and nightlife communities safe. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we provide free harm reduction services at music festivals and nightlife events across the nation. All proceeds from the sales of our drug checking kits go back into the organization so we can continue to provide our services in our communities for free. By purchasing a kit, you are not only helping keep you and your friends safe, you are also contributing to the harm reduction movement. Thank you for your support!