One ketamine-related death 'a week' in UK amid fears of 'next drug pandemic’

Deaths related to ketamine are up 650% since 2015, with new figures showing one death ‘each week’ involving the drug across the UK.

Experts have warned the drug is taking the lives of people right across the country and say it could be the next “drug pandemic”.

Figures obtained by a Freedom of Information Request, and seen exclusively by ITV News, highlights the growing problem around the Class B drug.

Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and obtained by The UKAT Group show three times as many women are losing their lives to the drug since before the Covid pandemic, with deaths from those under 30 years old involving the drug seeing a 300% rise in as many years.

The statistics show where the drug has been listed on a person’s death certificate.

Death certificate data from 2024 onwards is yet to be released.

What is ketamine?

Ketamine is an anaesthetic horse tranquilliser that has hallucinogenic effects.

It distorts perceptions of sight and sound and makes the user feel disconnected and not in control.

Along with the other “club drugs” it has become popular among teens and young adults and is manufactured commercially as a powder or liquid and can be snorted or swallowed.

Short-term effects can include memory loss, impaired judgement, disorientation, clumsiness and anxiety

Regular users may experience flashbacks, mood and personality changes, depression, concentration problems and abdominal pain.

An overdose can cause unconsciousness and dangerously slowed breathing, and in some cases, death.

Ketamine is currently controlled as a Class B substance and the maximum penalty for supplying and producing it is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

The UKAT Group’s analysis, seen exclusively by ITV News shows that in 2015, just seven people across England and Wales lost their lives where Ketamine was involved. The latest data shows this has risen by 650%, with 53 lives lost in 2023.

The results show that every year except 2019 saw a steady rise in the number of people losing their lives where Ketamine was involved.

The worst year for teenage deaths where Ketamine was mentioned on the death certificate was in 2021, where four people aged 15-19 lost their lives. According to The UKAT Group’s analysis, all four of those teenagers were male.

The region with the highest number of registered deaths where Ketamine was mentioned in 2023 was the South East with seven deaths.

The Government announced in January it would seek expert advice on reclassifying ketamine to become a Class A substance, alongside the likes of cocaine and ecstasy, after illegal use of the drug reached record levels in the year ending March 2023.

Ketamine is currently controlled as a Class B substance and the maximum penalty for supplying and producing it is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

The prevalence of the drug in England and Wales has risen significantly in recent years. In the year ending March 2023, an estimated 299,000 people aged 16-59 had reported ketamine use in the last year – the largest number on record.

It can cause serious health problems, such as irreversible damage to the bladder and kidneys, and is one of the most detected drugs in incidents of spiking.

Recent reports have shown Ketamine is often an ingredient included in ‘pink cocaine’, the dangerous synthetic drug cocktail taken by users without knowing what mix of substances it contains.

Zaheen Ahmed, director of Addiction Therapy at the UKAT Group which treats people over 18 for Ketamine addiction comments on the findings have called on the government to act.

“Ketamine deaths are rising and they shouldn’t be, it’s as simple as that”, explains Ahmed.

“This is a drug that has flown under the radar for far too long.

“If this data goes unheard, these figures will continue to rise and rise, and it will be our younger generation who will lose their lives because they’re so unaware of the severity of this drug.”

In response to the figures, a spokesperson for the Home Office told ITV News, “We are seeking advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on reclassifying ketamine to become a Class A substance.

“Through our Plan for Change and mission to make the nation’s streets safer, we will work with public services including health and policing, to drive down drug use and stop those who profit from its supply.”

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this report, please find support at ITV.com/helplines or The UKAT Group website.