Health and Defense Secretaries Clear Path for Ketamine Use in Military

Source Summary

The U.S. Secretaries of Health and Defense have collaborated on emergency authorization for ketamine as a medical countermeasure for military forces. A Federal Register notice initially raised questions by not specifying the reason for the collaboration. The action was announced in July.

Why it matters

This authorization enables the military to access ketamine as an emergency medical treatment, potentially expanding treatment options for service members.

What remains uncertain

The specific medical purpose or emergency scenario for which ketamine authorization was sought remains unclear from the initial Federal Register notice.