KETAMINE
EARLY START
K etamine, once a niche anaesthetic used primarily in medical and veterinary settings, has rapidly evolved into a widely used recreational drug – particularly among young adults. New research commissioned by Turning Point reveals just how embedded ketamine has become in youth culture, and why improving awareness, early identification, and access to specialist support is now a public health priority.
A recent YouGov survey of more than 1,000 people aged 18 – 30 found that one in three young adults believe ketamine use is common among their peers. This perception was even more pronounced among women, with 37 per cent reporting its widespread use compared to 28 per cent of men. While perceptions alone are worrying, reported behaviours are equally concerning – 7 per cent of respondents said they’ d used ketamine in the past but had since stopped, 3 per cent currently use it, and 1 per cent use it daily. Extrapolated across the UK population, this suggests that more than 100,000 young people may be using ketamine every single day.
These figures align with national trends. Data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales shows that ketamine use has more than doubled over the past decade, rising from 117,000 users in 2013 to nearly 300,000 in 2023. Among 16 to 24-year-olds, the increase has been even more stark – from 52,000 to 222,000 during the same period. At Turning Point,
Ketamine use is rising exponentially among young adults. That means early awareness and support are vital, says Dr Martyn Hull
every one of our substance use services across the country has seen a corresponding rise in the number of people seeking help for ketamine-related problems. In areas such as Bristol, Lincolnshire, Suffolk and Wakefield, referrals have grown more than sevenfold since 2020.
Despite this escalating pattern of use, the harms associated with ketamine remain poorly understood. Our survey found that while 65 per cent of respondents recognised ketamine as dangerous, this awareness was lowest among 25 to 30-year-olds. Worryingly, only half of young adults in London – where ketamine is particularly prevalent – believed it posed risks to physical and mental health.
When we talk to people about their reasons for using ketamine, a familiar set of themes emerges. Many report taking it to enhance social experiences such as parties and festivals( 52 per cent), out of curiosity( 50 per cent), or simply because their friends are using it( 49 per cent). A significant proportion – 35 per cent overall and nearly 40 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds – believe people also turn to ketamine to cope with stress or mental health difficulties. This combination of social normalisation and emotional coping creates a dangerous environment in which troubled young adults may escalate their use quickly and without recognising the risks.
And those risks are serious. Symptoms such as abdominal pain, urinary retention and incontinence are now common presentations in our services. For some individuals, the urinary tract damage is so substantial that surgery becomes unavoidable.
Emily’ s experience is a powerful reminder of how quickly ketamine can take over a person’ s life. She began using ketamine in her teens after becoming part of the rave scene, where the drug was widespread. Although she initially used other substances, ketamine soon became her primary drug due to its low cost and intense effects. Within a year, she developed
Turning Point is launching ' Know Your K ' a national harm reduction campaign designed to give practical, non judgmental information to help people who use ketamine to stay safe. More information at bit. ly / 4sFHT3x crippling bladder issues and severe abdominal cramps. At one point, she was told she might need her bladder removed. Ultimately, Emily underwent a bladder augmentation procedure which improved her symptoms, but some of the damage is permanent. Today, she is three years abstinent and works as a peer support worker at Turning Point – helping others find a way out of the same cycle.
Stories like Emily’ s highlight the urgent need for better awareness, earlier intervention, and more consistent identification of ketamine-related harms by healthcare professionals. Turning Point is responding to this need through our new national ketamine awareness campaign, which aims to improve public understanding, strengthen referral pathways, and support systemic change. As part of the campaign, more than 1,000 healthcare professionals are expected to attend our webinar on ketamine use and harm reduction, created in response to evidence that GPs and pharmacists are not always recognising ketamine-related symptoms at an early stage.
Across the country, we’ ve developed specialist ketamine treatment pathways led by multidisciplinary teams of clinicians, therapists, recovery workers and peer mentors. These services ensure that people receive tailored, evidence-based support – whether they are simply seeking advice, wanting to cut down, or hoping to stop using ketamine entirely.
My message to anyone concerned about their own use – or the use of someone they know – is simple: don’ t wait. Seek support early. The sooner ketamine dependency is recognised and addressed, the greater the chance of preventing long-term and possibly irreversible harm.
Dr Martyn Hull is clinical director at Turning Point
18 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • APRIL 2026 WWW. DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS. COM