(L.A.) Wenlong Deng, 27, Died in a Hospital

Case Number: 2023-08463

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 27-year-old Asian male that occurred in a hospital.

The coroner’s office has identified the man as Wenlong Deng.

Manner of Death: Accident

Cause of Death: Effects of Ketamine

RIP WENLONG DENG (November 23, 1995 – July 7, 2023)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Friday at 3:30 p.m.

The decedent’s name appears to be Chinese.

Ketamine is popularly referred to as a ‘horse tranquillizer’ and commonly assumed to be used primarily in veterinary medicine. In fact, ketamine, which was first synthesised in 1964, is used in both human and veterinary medicine because of its anesthetic and analgesic properties. It is the drug of choice on the battle field and was used extensively in the Vietnam War.

More recently, its use in pain management, heroin and alcohol addiction, and as an antidepressant in patients who may have treatment–resistant depression has been explored. Furthermore, although the agitation, panic attacks, hallucinations and dissociative effects associated with the drug limit its clinical use, it is these psychedelic effects that make ketamine popular with recreational drug users.