Today’s big topic: Both Copenhagen and Aarhus hit by ketamine wave
The drug Ketamine has become a recreational substance and is spreading across Europe despite significant health consequences.
What’s happening?
The drug ketamine is gaining popularity among young people in Europe. It causes serious health damage, but its medical status makes it difficult to regulate. In Denmark, the drug is also frequently found.
Ketamine is both a cheap anesthetic used in healthcare systems in poor countries as well as a widely used recreational drug, according to the EU’s drug agency (EUDA), which collects information on drugs and intoxicants. Originally reserved for veterinary use and surgical anesthesia, ketamine has now become a staple in Europe’s drug landscape. According to studies, consumption is increasing and it comes with serious health consequences.
More than one in ten recreational drug users have now used ketamine. This significant increase has raised serious concerns among health experts. The drug can cause acute damage to the brain and nervous system during intoxication, it can affect the heart and circulatory system, and in the worst cases, it can lead to cardiac arrest.
Why it matters!
The latest figures EUDA have available, from 2023, show that approximately 2.7 tons of ketamine were seized within the EU, indicating a growing supply. The drug is primarily produced in India and China and is typically smuggled into Europe through ports in the Netherlands and Belgium, according to EUDA’s annual report, released recently.
Denmark is also subject to more and more ketamine use. According to an analysis from EUDA, Copenhagen ranks among the highest in the EU for ketamine found in wastewater. Aarhus also ranks high in the same measurement, highlighting a concerning trend.
But as use of the drugs increases, the health consequences associated with the drug are also starting to be seen up close by the hospital system. However, a full ban on ketamine does not seem like a viable solution to the issue, as the drug also serves as an important medicine for some purposes.
Still curious? Read the full article here.
In other news
–Copenhagen Sprint was simultaneously a disappointment and a great success
The cycling race in the center of the capital on Sunday did not disappoint. Confusion in the peloton and a massive crash with 12 kilometers to go meant that a morning breakaway maintained its lead in the city, while the peloton frantically tried to catch up. With just 1.2 kilometers left, the breakaway was finally caught, and in a mass sprint, Belgium’s Jordi Meeus from Red Bull proved to be the strongest.
Read the full article here.
–The Baltic Sea is among the places on Earth where the ocean has become the darkest, and no one knows the consequences
In the last 20 years, the world’s oceans have darkened to such an extent that it has caught the attention of scientists across the globe. However, none of them can currently predict the consequences of this darkening. Overall, a new study shows that approximately 21 percent of the world’s oceans have darkened from 2003 to 2022. The primary cause of the darkening is an increased presence of plankton and algae that block the sun.
Read the full article here.
–Ministry of the Environment has violated marine environment regulations despite warnings over several years
Civil servants in the Ministry of the Environment have, according to DR, warned the ministry about breaches of regulations due to the lack of limit values. The warnings date back at least 14 years. Specifically, Denmark has not implemented limit values for a range of polluted substances in fish, mussels, and the seabed, which has impacted the assessment of the state of coastal waters
Talk of town: Neil Young sent fans home with the head full of fantastic guitar riffs and a reminder of rock’s immortality
Neil Young insisted on playing on all strings.
Everything Neil Young has ever been, he still was on Sunday night at Tiøren, where he performed with his new band, The Chrome Hearts.
Personally, I kept changing my perspective on what kind of Neil Young fan I am: When the electricity was flowing, the sound of guitar noise and rusty chords felt like the essence of Neil Young – but that was just until he sat down in front of the drum set and played a heavenly rendition of ’The Needle and the Damage Done’ followed by ’Harvest Moon’ – then it was the Neil Young nearly falling apart that felt truly right.
It was a concert with great range, but also showed an artist who still plays all the strings. At 79, the passage of time had left its mark on the songs, but not in a way that diminished them. You could feel that he still cared about them, still explored their sounds and meanings, not just playing on autopilot. It was a full-throttle and flawed performance.
Read the full review here.
This newsletter features stories originally published in Danish. AI was used to shorten and translate the articles into English, after which a member of the editorial staff reviewed and refined the content.