Senator vows to include ‘Special K’ in list of banned drugs

Administration reelectionist Senator Robert Barbers vowed yesterday to push for legislation that would include "Special K," a substance now being used by drug abusers as an alternative of now-scarce Ecstasy and shabu, in the list of prohibited drugs under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2000.

Barbers made the promise after Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay revealed that ketamine hydrocloride, better known as "Special K," was the latest product being peddle by illegal drug syndicates.

The drug, reportedly introduced in the market late last year, is becoming popular among young substance abusers.

The police said Special K is now an alternative drug to most young substance abusers, especially those coming from affluent families. It is said to be fast becoming popular among drug users because peddlers can evade the law since "Special K" is not included in the list of banned substance under Republic Act 9165, of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2000.

Once reelected to the Senate, Barbers said one of his first action would be to further amend RA 9165 and include Special K in the list of prohibited substances.

Police said "Special K" is available in powder or tablet form and costs P1,000 per dosage. Ecstasy, which comes in capsule form, has an underground market price of P1, 500 while shabu is being sold at P2, 500 per sachet.

The US Drug Enforcement Agency has described Special K as a powerful hallucinogen widely used as an animal tranquilizer. "When used by humans, it will produce visual distortions and loses all sense of time and identity," a DEA report said.

Barbers, who is the principal author of the Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002 and chairman of the Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs, said Congress "must adopt swiftly on the fast-paced changes" in the campaign against illegal drugs.

"Congress must always make a pro-active stance when it comes to war against illegal drugs. RA 9165, when it was enacted in 2002, was considered one of the toughest laws in addressing the drug problem in our country. Now, with the introduction of this new drug called Special K, we have to immediately amend the law," Barbers said.

He stressed that the administration is winning the war against illegal drugs by leaps and bounds.

"So let us not place these achievements to waste. I am giving my word to Gen. Aglipay that his call to include this new banned substance will not fall on deaf ears in the next Congress. I will personally push for this amendment both in my public and private capacity," Barbers said.– With Jose Rodel Clapano