2F-Ketamine in Australia: Legal Status, Effects, and Risks
2F-Ketamine (2-fluorodeschloroketamine, also known as 2F-DCK) is a Schedule 9 prohibited substance in Australia, with a legal status even stricter than ketamine itself. This ketamine analogue appeared on global illicit markets around 2016 and has since been detected in Australia. 2F-Ketamine has no known therapeutic use, and its legal consequences are equivalent to or more severe than those for ketamine. Consequently, understanding its legal status and risks is essential for anyone encountering this substance in Australia.
What Is 2F-Ketamine?
2F-Ketamine is a ketamine analogue. Its chemical structure is almost identical to ketamine, with the only difference being that the chlorine atom on the benzene ring is replaced by a fluorine atom. This structural modification makes 2F-ketamine a “designer drug” belonging to the category of new psychoactive substances (NPS).
2F-Ketamine was first synthesised by Dimitrov and colleagues in 1987, but it was not until 2014 that it was re-synthesised and entered the illicit market. Around 2015, it began to be sold online as a “research chemical,” and in 2016 it first appeared on the Spanish illicit market.
The Legal Status of 2F-Ketamine in Australia
Under the Australian Poisons Standard, 2F-ketamine has not received approval for any therapeutic use and holds no marketing authorisation. This means it has no legitimate medical use under Australian law.
Explicit Controls in Queensland
The Queensland Penalties and Sentences Regulation 2025, Schedule 2, explicitly lists Ketamine as a prescription dangerous drug, with a specified quantity of 0.2 grams. Although the schedule directly names “Ketamine” rather than “2F-Ketamine,” as a ketamine analogue, 2F-ketamine would generally be treated as a controlled substance in Australia.
Border Controls
Under the Customs Legislation Amendment (Drugs) Regulation 2025, Australia is strengthening import controls on new psychoactive substances to ensure Australia meets its obligations under international conventions. The amendment adds newly scheduled substances to Schedule 4 of the Prohibited Imports Regulations, meaning their importation requires approval from relevant authorities, and unauthorised importation constitutes a criminal offence.
State “Blanket Bans”
In Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria, “blanket bans” are now in effect, prohibiting the possession or sale of any substance with psychoactive effects, with the exception of alcohol, tobacco, and food. This means 2F-ketamine is clearly illegal in these states.
In other Australian states and territories, specific NPS substances are individually listed on prohibited schedules, with new substances frequently added. Therefore, a substance that may be legal to sell or possess today could become illegal tomorrow. This legal uncertainty makes the status of 2F-ketamine extremely unstable.
Effects and Risks of 2F-Ketamine
Similarities to Ketamine
Animal studies show that 2F-ketamine fully substitutes for ketamine in drug discrimination tests, with an ED50 of 1.605 mg/kg, compared to ketamine’s ED50 of 2.185 mg/kg, indicating that 2F-ketamine may be more potent than ketamine. Users report that its effects are “basically the same as ketamine,” but that it is harder to reach a “K-hole” state and has a longer onset time than ketamine.
Reported Dosages
According to user reports on Erowid, common doses of 2F-ketamine are approximately 50-100 mg (insufflated), with oral doses of approximately 25-70 mg achieving similar effects.
Major Risks
Bladder damage is a known serious risk of ketamine-class substances. Although researchers have attempted to create ketamine analogues with less bladder harm, they have so far been unsuccessful. Therefore, frequent use of 2F-ketamine may cause bladder damage as severe as frequent ketamine use.
Dependence: 2F-ketamine has addiction potential similar to ketamine. Animal self-administration experiments show that 2F-ketamine and ketamine exhibit similar reinforcing efficacy.
Unknown risks: Because 2F-ketamine is a very new substance, very little is known about its mechanisms of action, dosage, and risks. Doctors in emergency situations may struggle to help because they are unfamiliar with the substance.
Detection Cases in Australia
2F-Ketamine has been detected in Australia. A World Health Organization Expert Committee report noted that 2F-ketamine has been detected in at least 11 countries including Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, and the United States, including in post-mortem samples, impaired driver samples, and emergency department admission samples.
Additionally, scientists at the Australian National University (ANU) discovered “CanKet” (2F-NENDCK) through CanTest in 2022, another ketamine analogue. In 2024, Brisbane’s CheQpoint drug checking service found CanKet in methamphetamine, with users reporting “distress, hallucinations, and nausea.”
Summary
2F-Ketamine has no legitimate medical use in Australia. Under the “blanket bans” in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria, possessing or selling any substance with psychoactive effects is illegal. In other states, it may fall under individually listed NPS substances. 2F-Ketamine carries addiction potential and bladder damage risks similar to ketamine, and because of its novelty, other undiscovered risks may exist. For anyone encountering this substance in Australia, the safest approach is to avoid use and to utilise legitimate drug checking services such as CanTest or CheQpoint for composition testing.