Rehab admissions for ketamine addictions almost double in the last five years
UKAT have a rehab facility in Halstead
Last updated 13th Oct 2025
An Essex-based UKAT rehab facility has seen admissions for ketamine addictions almost double in the last five years.
The UK Addiction Treatment Centres provide support to those with addiction, and have medical professionals to help those that need it.
The centre has seen a "huge increase" in younger people being admitted, with a lack of awareness said to be the cause.
We spoke to Jade Clark, Centre Manager at Sanctuary Lodge, who told us about ketamine addictions.
"It causes a psychological dependency. What we've recognised is the clients that come into our service, they're in this place where it's affecting all aspects of their lives."
She said that the drug is sometimes used to self-medicate mental health issues.
"People often use it because it dissociates them from reality.
"What we've noticed is it actually does the adverse, it supresses it for a moment, but then that can come out in PTSD, increased anxiety and low mood.
"The psychological dependency means that they put the drug before everything they value in their life.
"The way that we treat that is through an intensive therapy programme and its about reframing the way someone is thinking, we're looking at triggers and finding coping strategies and teaching people how to manage with their emotions."
Jade said that when she speaks to people that come into the centre they are unaware of the dangers of the drug.
"They report to me that they can get it quite easily and they also share that they didn't recognise the dangers of ketamine.
"People will often compare it to harder drugs and think 'at least I'm not doing opiates', but actually it can be just as dangerous."
She said that it is "absolutely crucial" that awareness is spread about the dangers of ketamine.
"When someone starts using ketamine it can have such a irreversible effect on their physical health in terms of their kidneys, their bladder, and it slows down your breathing.
"I believe that if people have more awareness around ketamine, they would think twice, and instead of trying to self-medicate, they may find healthier coping strategies to manage with their emotions."
UKAT's support is available on their website, where they also have more information on the dangers of ketamine.