DistantNews
Support us
Woman warns of 'ketamine bladder' after drug use scarred hers for life
🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Health & Science

Woman warns of 'ketamine bladder' after drug use scarred hers for life

From BBC News · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A 23-year-old woman developed permanent bladder damage from using ketamine recreationally.
  • She experienced symptoms like inflammation and frequent urges to urinate within six months of starting the drug.
  • Ketamine use among young people in the UK has significantly increased, with similar concerns rising in Scotland.

Ellie Wight, 23, is living with permanent damage to her bladder after five years of recreational ketamine use. She began taking the drug at 18, seeking a sense of "no worries" and viewing it as a "safe option." However, within six months, she started experiencing symptoms of 'ketamine bladder,' including inflammation and a constant, urgent need to urinate.

It made her feel like she had "no worries" and "no cares", helping her to relax in social settings.

— Ellie WightDescribing her initial reasons for using ketamine.

Wight described the debilitating effects, saying, "when I'm sitting in traffic in Aberdeen, and I'm bursting for the toilet and you just physically can't hold it." She noted that at her worst, she was using 3.5 grams daily, costing around £40. While her bladder initially healed after she quit, she relapsed, and the damage has now persisted for 10 months since her last use.

You're paying, like £10, £20 per gram.

— Ellie WightDiscussing the affordability of ketamine.

Ketamine, a powerful anesthetic used medically, has gained popularity as a recreational "party drug" due to its hallucinogenic effects. Its recreational use is reportedly on the rise, with younger users becoming more common. A UK government report indicated a 231% increase in ketamine use among 16-24 year olds in England and Wales since 2013. Although Scotland does not collect similar data, urologists report an "escalating rapidly" number of young patients presenting with symptoms of ketamine urinary tract syndrome.

At my worst I was taking 3.5g every day. That was for £40, if not less.

— Ellie WightDetailing the extent of her daily ketamine consumption.

Consultant urological surgeon Justine Royle highlighted the lack of data collection in Scotland as a concern. The damage, known as ketamine urinary tract syndrome, affects the entire urinary tract, including kidneys and ureters. It causes scarring and fibrosis, constricting the bladder and reducing its capacity. A normal bladder holds 300-600ml, but Wight's can now only hold 50-100ml.

Inflammation, constantly needing a pee, I started off getting UTIs (urinary tract infections) quite a lot.

— Ellie WightRecounting the early symptoms of ketamine bladder.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by BBC News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog