Ellie's Experience with Ketamine
Ellie Wight began using ketamine at the age of 18. She described the drug as making her feel like she had "no worries" and "no cares," which helped her relax in social environments. Initially, she considered ketamine a "safe option" compared to other substances and did not anticipate any health issues.
Five years later, at 23, Ellie is living with permanent bladder damage caused by repeated use of this powerful class-B drug.
Ketamine is commonly used within the NHS as an anaesthetic, sedative, and pain reliever, and it is also frequently administered to animals. Due to its hallucinogenic properties, ketamine gained a reputation as a "party drug." Evidence suggests recreational use is increasing, particularly among younger users.
Ellie noted that ketamine was inexpensive and readily available.
"You're paying, like £10, £20 per gram."
"At my worst I was taking 3.5g every day. That was for £40, if not less."
Within six months of starting use, Ellie, from Drumoak in Aberdeenshire, began experiencing symptoms of ketamine urinary tract syndrome, also known as 'ketamine bladder.'
"Inflammation, constantly needing a pee, I started off getting UTIs (urinary tract infections) quite a lot," she said.
"It's not something I'm really proud of, but when I was 18 years old and I'm sitting in traffic in Aberdeen, and I'm bursting for the toilet and you just physically can't hold it.
"It's a lot mentally going through that."
Medical Background and Effects of Ketamine Bladder
Ketamine is illegal to possess, manufacture, or sell except for licensed medical purposes. As the drug is metabolized and excreted through urine, it can irritate the bladder walls. This irritation can cause scarring, or fibrosis, which stiffens the bladder, reducing its elasticity and capacity to hold urine.
Despite the term 'ketamine bladder,' the condition affects the entire urinary tract, including the kidneys and ureters. Symptoms include abdominal and back pain, frequent and urgent urination, blood in the urine, and sometimes incontinence.
While a normal bladder can hold between 300ml to 600ml of urine, Ellie reports her bladder now holds only 50ml to 100ml.
Ellie explained that when she initially stopped using ketamine, her bladder healed within one to two months. However, after resuming use, the damage became permanent.
"Unfortunately, this time round, it didn't heal," she said.
It has now been 10 months since Ellie last used ketamine, but she continues to manage pain resulting from its effects.
Rising Ketamine Use and Medical Response
A UK government report published in March 2024 found that ketamine use among young people aged 16-24 in England and Wales increased by 231% since March 2013. Although Scotland does not collect similar data, urologists report a rapid increase in children presenting with ketamine urinary tract syndrome symptoms.
Justine Royle, a consultant urological surgeon at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI), highlighted the lack of comprehensive data collection in Scotland. She noted that the urology department at ARI established a specialist 'ketamine bladder' clinic in response to rising cases in northeast Scotland.
"Initially there were one or two a year coming through," she said.
"We now see between one and two a month that have significant levels of damage to their urinary tract."
Royle believes this represents only "the tip of the iceberg" and anticipates the situation could worsen.
She described the patients as "young and fit," often intelligent individuals with disposable income who mistakenly believe ketamine will not harm them.
"In reality, they are damaging themselves beyond redemption," she said.
Royle reported that patients as young as 14 have been admitted to ARI with ketamine bladder symptoms, and in England, cases have been seen in patients as young as 10.
She emphasized that ketamine's damage extends beyond the urinary tract.
"The vast majority of people who have long term usage will end up with significant damage to their bodies," she said.
"It can affect erectile function, it affects the liver, and there is some evidence that it may affect the brain in long term usage as well."
Royle also mentioned cases handled by colleagues involving cardiac arrest likely related to renal failure caused by ketamine use.
Claire's Story: Severe Ketamine Addiction and Bladder Damage
Claire, a pseudonym, is recovering from five years of ketamine addiction. She was introduced to the drug around age 18 and, at her peak, consumed between 14g and 21g daily, costing approximately £150 per day.
"It was a very dark time for me," she said.
"I was really physically unwell and in such a bad place mentally I just didn't want to be alive anymore."
Due to ketamine-induced bladder damage, Claire now depends on nephrostomy tubes to drain urine directly from her kidneys through an opening in her back into an external bag.
For individuals experiencing bladder pain from ketamine use, the drug's numbing and pain-relieving effects can create a challenging cycle to break.
"The only thing that helped with my pain was taking more ketamine," Claire said.
"You're in so much pain and you just want that relief for a few minutes.
"Both the times I've been in hospital because of my ketamine use I have gone home and used the next day."
Ellie's Recovery and Support Efforts
Now 10 months free from ketamine, Ellie has established a peer support group called Safe Space Ketamine Recovery to assist others battling addiction.
She emphasizes the importance of young people having access to communities that understand issues such as incontinence caused by ketamine use.
Ellie also commented on the naivety of young users, noting a common perception that "it happened to them, so it won't happen to me." She advises caution.
"Maybe if it doesn't happen straight away it will come. I just think it's not worth it."
