KETAMINE TREATMENT
COMFORT ZONE
Iuliia Mazur / iSock
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n the UK, ketamine use disorder( KUD) is rising in prevalence and disproportionately affecting a younger demographic compared to substance use disorders more generally. Earlier this year, the government commissioned an updated harm assessment for ketamine, prompted by a 231 per cent increase in reported use among 16-to-24-year-olds since 2013 and growing concerns about the severity of harm it’ s causing.
Physical symptoms associated with ketamine use include bladder and kidney damage, incontinence, impaired sexual function, and infertility. These can emerge within just two years of use, and in the
With more and more young people struggling with ketamine use disorder and its often alarming – and embarrassing – physical symptoms, it’ s vital that services are both sensitive and genuinely responsive to their needs, says Dr Lisa Ogilvie
case of bladder damage can contribute to the ongoing cycle of ketamine misuse given the drug’ s analgesic properties.
Depending on the severity of the KUD, healing is possible following cessation. In the worst cases, however, the damage is chronic and irreversible, which is devastating for a young adult. Compounding the issue is the psychological impact, which is exacerbated by the deterioration in mental health typically seen with addiction. There’ s little doubt, therefore, of the urgency with which services ought to respond – whether by implementing preventative initiatives or providing appropriate treatment and recovery options.
Determining what works for the evolving needs of an emerging population within addiction services, however, requires careful consideration to ensure that it’ s effective.
AGE DISPARITIES According to UK government statistics, the average age a person engages with addiction treatment services for alcohol use disorder is 46, and 44 for opiate dependence. This highlights the age disparity that services are increasingly seeing, with people with KUD typically presenting in their early twenties. It’ s reasonable to conclude that the needs of emergent groups will be different based on factors such as age, lived experience and symptomology. Finding ways to make treatment accessible and relevant for a shifting client demographic is as important as continuing to serve the existing and better understood populations that continue to access services.
Co-producing treatment solutions that work for
‘ I am taken seriously. Everyone is here for the same reason, to get better, and I have talked about my issues with ket without feeling ashamed.’ Ethan, service user
10 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • JUNE 2025 WWW. DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS. COM