'I started ketamine at 14 and needed nappies at 22' - the rise of young people going to rehab
Summary
More young people in Wales are going to rehab for ketamine use, which is increasing rapidly. Ketamine can cause serious health problems, like bladder damage, in a shorter time compared to other drugs, and many users are aged between 18 and 24.Key Facts
- Ketamine use among young people has grown a lot in the past five years.
- The drugs charity Kaleidoscope saw referrals for ketamine rehab go from 2 in 2021 to 112 in 2026.
- Most clients referred to rehab are aged 18 to 24, with some starting drug use as young as 13 or 14.
- Ketamine can cause serious physical harm quickly, including bladder damage needing incontinence pads.
- Megan Harmes started ketamine at 14, used it heavily during lockdown, and now suffers bladder damage but is in rehab.
- Ketamine is cheap and easy to get illegally, leading to frequent and heavy use.
- The drug was made illegal in 2014, but still widely used in the UK, with an estimated 264,000 users aged 16-59 in 2024-25.
- Research and rehab programs are adapting to meet the needs of younger users, who often have different problems and habits than older drug users.
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