EXCLUSIVE: Elon’s recent rampage on his social media platform X/ formerly known as Twitter has many wondering if Musk’s ketamine usage is responsible for his recent outburst
13:00, 12 Jan 2025Updated 13:04, 12 Jan 2025
Social media users think Musk’s ketamine use is to blame for his recent social media antics(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Elon Musk’s recent explosive tweets have dominated the UK news cycle over the last week. From calling Jess Philips a “Genocide Rapist Apologist” to claiming Nigel Farage “hasn’t got what it takes” to lead Reform UK – Musk’s scathing tweets have rattled every corner of the UK political spectrum.
Coupled with these outbursts there are rumours of him taking interest in buying Liverpool FC – leaving football fans wondering what might be next from the Tesla billionaire.
And Musk’s recent outburst has led many to speculate if the tech mogul was in his right mind when waging his crusade against the current government.
Musk’s absurd tweets have every corner of the UK political scene rattled(Image: Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF)
In the past the SpaceX boss has found himself defending his usage of the class A drug ketamine and some have levied claims that his recent behaviour is a consequence of this. Commenters on his site X/formerly known as Twitter blamed what they called his “ketamine addiction” for his recent outbursts.
One claimed his alleged ketamine addiction had brought about a “manic, messianic, narcissistic episode”. While others stated: “He’s a mad ket addicted billionaire megalomaniac who’s got no mates.”
In an 2024 interview with Don Lemon the Tesla billionaire discussed his ketamine usage. Musk said: “There are times when I have sort of a… negative reaction in my brain, like depression I guess, or depression that’s not linked to any negative news, and ketamine is helpful for getting one out of the negative frame of mind.”
‘He’s a mad ket addicted billionaire’ said one X user(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Musk added the prescription for the drug came from “an actual real doctor” and that he uses “a small amount once every week or something like that”.
Medical lecturer Dr Gareth Nye noted that recreational ketamine is used as a that sends its users into a dissociative state.
Despite Musk’s claims that it helps him deal with instances of depression, Dr Nye affirmed: “We don’t know how it works for depression but it may be due to blocking nerve pathways in the brain.”
Musk has claimed he is “almost always sober” when posting, suggesting that sometimes he is under the influence during his late night posting sessions on his site X.
A medical lecturer said: ‘We don’t know how Ket works for depression'(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Musk has denied that he overuses the medication and stated: “If you use too much ketamine, you can’t really get work done. I have a lot of work, I’m typically putting in 16-hour days…so I don’t really have a situation where I can be not mentally acute for an extended period of time.”
Musk had defended his ketamine usage and argued that his investors would agree with his drug usage.
“From a standpoint of Wall Street, what matters is execution,” he said. “Are you building value for investors? Tesla is worth about as much as the rest of the car industry combined … so from an investor standpoint, if there is something I’m taking, I should keep taking it.”
However, despite Musk’s assertion that he should continue to take the drug, Dr Nye highlights that extensive use of the drug can have pretty serious long term consequences. He states: “Long term use changes the brain in most cases leading to significant changes in mood, depression and lack of concentration.”
Ket users have noted feeling irritability and restlessness several days after usage(Image: Getty Images)
Dr Nye also warned that the consequences of taking the drug could also persist in an individual days after substance usage. He said: “Users of ketamine have noted they have mood changes for several days after taking it which does include irritability and restlessness.
“Ketamine is used as a treatment for bipolar disorder in some cases and there are calls for it to be available for those who have depression and haven’t had success with other drug therapies.”
Dr Nye said like most illegal drugs ketamine is highly addictive and withdrawal symptoms from the drug include irritability and paranoia as well as confusion and hallucinations.
Regardless of Musk’s drug usage, the tech billionaire’s tweets are currently being probed for “potential to risk to Britain” by the government’s counter extremism unit. This comes as experts fear that toxicity on social media platforms such as Musk’s X could create violence on our streets