Ketamine use rises among young adults in Wales
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Megan Harmes of Flint, north Wales, began using ketamine at age 14 and now, at 24, requires incontinence pads due to bladder damage caused by the drug.
The drugs charity Kaleidoscope reported a substantial increase in referrals for detox and rehabilitation, rising from two in 2021 to 112 so far this year, with most clients between 18 and 24 years old.
This rise prompted the University of South Wales to begin research into the specific needs of young ketamine users, noting that the drug’s harmful effects develop more quickly than those from alcohol or other Class A drugs. Traditional rehabilitation services are adjusting to support this younger demographic, whose habits often began during their school years. For Megan, drug use increased during lockdown when she was an aeronautical engineering apprentice and had disposable income.
She used ketamine to cope with ADHD and borderline personality disorder, eventually losing her job and spiraling into heavier use. Jo Moore, who runs the Birchwood rehabilitation facility for Kaleidoscope, noted the drug’s accessibility and low cost contribute to its widespread use. Dr.
Darren Quelch from the University of South Wales is researching the challenges of treating young people with ketamine-related health problems, including memory loss, pain, kidney failure, and bladder damage, and found that many initially hesitate to seek help from doctors. While early intervention programs are showing promise, researchers continue to study the long-term health impacts and recovery rates for this population.
