Ketamine use is rising sharply
Ketamine use is rising sharply. In England and Wales, the number of annual users has doubled to around 300,000 in less than a decade, while the number seeking treatment for ketamine-related problems has surged more than eightfold over the same period. Most concerningly, this increase has been especially pronounced among young people.
Given these trends, it is unsurprising that cases of serious physical and psychological harm linked to ketamine use have also increased significantly. These include severe bladder and kidney damage, which can lead to long-term incontinence or invasive surgery, as well as a range of mental health problems.
That the growing use of ketamine poses serious harms to both users and wider society is not in question. What is less settled, however, is how the government should respond.
As Chair of the Drugs, Alcohol and Justice All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), I have heard from a range of experts on how best to stem the tide, including those who have called for a more punitive response. They are joined by a chorus of voices in Parliament and the media who advocate for escalating criminal penalties.
Last year, these calls prompted Home Office ministers to ask the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to consider whether ketamine should remain a Class B substance or be reclassified as a Class A drug. The ACMD ultimately advised against reclassification, but the question remains open to government decision.
The instinct to respond to rising illegal drug use with harsher sentences is understandable. After all, tougher penalties can appear to offer a straightforward deterrent and a visible sign that action is being taken. But I believe such a knee-jerk approach would do little to address the underlying problem and may in fact make it worse.
My own view on drugs was changed by the pioneering work of the former Police and Crime Commissioner for Durham, Ron Hogg, whose innovative “Checkpoint” diversion scheme offered positive and productive alternatives to prosecution. He had a fearless disregard for the views of the tabloid press. I was also impressed by former undercover police officer Neil Woods, whose book Good Cop, Bad War laid bare the senseless waste of police time and resources, as well as the harm caused by a punitive approach to drugs.
My experience chairing the APPG has confirmed for me that it is misguided to believe the so-called “war on drugs” can be won through more criminalisation. In reality, the answer is rarely as simple as harsher penalties alone.
Indeed, ketamine use rose significantly while it was classified as a Class C drug, and has continued to increase since its reclassification as a Class B substance. This raises an obvious question: if stricter classification has not curbed use so far, why would moving it to Class A suddenly succeed?
There is, however, another approach that has been consistently highlighted by charities working directly with people affected by drug use. These organisations are acutely aware of the harms associated with ketamine and have extensive experience supporting those affected by it. Yet they advocate for a different approach — one centred on harm reduction.
As Grace Willsher, from the drug and alcohol charity WithYou, explained at a recent APPG meeting on this subject, “reclassification will not reduce the growing harms we are seeing, and risks restricting education and employment opportunities, reinforcing stigma, and amplifying harm.”
This was echoed in testimonies from young people at last year’s Drink and Drugs News Conference, where I also heard about the success of peer-led support projects. A recurring theme in both was the challenge of overcoming stigma and ensuring people do not feel ashamed or fearful about seeking help.
There is a broad consensus among organisations supporting ketamine users that people are less likely to disclose drug use or seek early help when they fear criminal consequences, and evidence shows that delayed engagement leads to worse outcomes, including higher dependency severity and more medical complications.
A policy approach grounded in evidence would therefore prioritise prevention, early intervention and accessible support services, rather than punitive responses. This means investing in education to prevent use and reduce risk, alongside treatment for those already experiencing physical or mental health harms.
This reflects the public health “whole systems” approach, with integrated harm reduction services, advocated by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in its consideration of ketamine. We hope the Government will take forward these recommendations.
None of this is to dismiss concern about rising ketamine use as “moral panic”. Ketamine is causing real and acute harm that must be taken seriously. But inflammatory rhetoric, including from politicians in my own party who suggest harm reduction would “see our parks and playgrounds turned into crack dens”, does little to address the underlying issues or support those in need of help. We owe it to those affected to ensure policy is guided not by prejudice, but by evidence and compassion.
Grahame Morris is Labour MP for Easington and Chair of the Drugs, Alcohol and Justice All-Party Parliamentary Group.
