Scots taking lethal cocktail of ketamine and amphetamine

Teenager tried ‘rhino ket’ after listening to band's song

- BY MARK MCGIVERN

YOUNG Scots are risking their lives with a “rhino ket” drug craze that has surged after rappers Kneecap glorified it in their music.

Scottish health bosses have warned of the rapid emergence of the drug, which turbocharges the horse tranquilliser drug ketamine by adding amphetamine.

The mix has been appearing more and more in Scotland, leading to fears of addiction and death among those who take it.

One mother contacted the Daily Record after her 16-year-old son sought out the drug after getting into the controversial Kneecap rap act - whose song Rhino Ket is one of their top anthems.

The mum said: "My boy never touched drugs before watching the Kneecap movie last year and they were banging on about stuff like 'going down the K-hole'.

"He got in a state one night and could hardly talk when he got home. His face was bashed and he said someone had given him rhino ket, which was new to me.

"We found out that it's ketamine mixed with amphetamine and it's hugely dangerous."

She added: "I'm a liberal person but when I looked at the lyrics in the Kneecap song it was basically telling young people to take this drug. It's not on because this drug is designed to make people behave in a way that exposes them to danger."

Rhino ket has been in the Scottish supply chain for several years but its increased prevalence in drug reports prompted Public Health Scotland to issue a specific alert.

In PHS's latest Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) identifies the drug as a fast emerging trend, according to data shared by Police Scotland.