Concerns over rising use of ketamine and contaminated drugs in Northamptonshire
It follows warnings across the county in recent weeks of contaminated illegal drugs.
Recreational use of the drug ketamine is on the rise among young people nationally with concerns raised over the changing nature of drugs by a local service for young people.
NGAGE is an early intervention substance misuse service for young people in Northamptonshire. They offer a free and confidential service for 10 to 25 year olds that provides information, education, advice, and support to young people regarding drug and alcohol use.
The latest government figures show that the drug’s usage among 16-24 year olds in England has tripled since 2016, with a reported 269,000 people aged 16-59 reporting use of it up to early last year.
Zoe Church-Wood is Service Manager of NGAGE. Following a county wide health warning about contaminated drugs last month, she says many people may be buying drugs that are actually cut with other substances:
"We've had 22 young people treated for ketamine use a year to date, so that's that's where we're at coming into into service. I think the number within the county within obviously young people and what I would call the transition age group at sort of 17 to 25.
"We I expect the numbers are higher than what we've actually got, but that would be lower than the national average and the picture that is being painted nationally."
She says their work is about harm minimisation:
"The general message around drugs is that they are changing because ketamine is is certainly being found to contain synthetic substances and as the risks associated with ketamine that poses significant other risks to anybody using."
Zoe warns that drugs like ketamine are being cut with synthetic substances is. When this is things like synthetic opioids, then there's an increased risk of overdose.
The last reported incident of contaminated ketamine in the county was December according to Zoe.
James Murray, Recovery Worker at Change Grow Live's Substance to Solution service in Northampton, says they are seeing figures of ketamine use in the county in line with national numbers:
"In Northamptonshire at the moment we are seeing people coming in in what I described as almost dribs and drabs, so to me that kind of indicates that in line with the national trends, we can probably expect that to increase
"And I think it's a question of people being aware of where they can come for help, which is I think really important. People know that help is out there. If they've found themselves in a situation where they are using something like ketamine."
The drug, which comes as a clear liquid or a white or off-white powder was originally developed as a powerful anaesthetic and was used to treat American soldiers during the Vietnam war.
It has also sometimes been used by the NHS and as a painkiller for large animals such as horses.
But the drug’s euphoric and hallucinogenic effects meant that it soon started to be abused as a recreational substance.
But the drug is highly addictive and regular use can come at a heavy price.
Chronic ketamine abuse has been known to damage people’s kidneys, liver and bladder, as well as increased heart rate, seizures, high blood pressure and respiratory issues.
There is even a term, ‘Ketamine bladder’ which is characterised by significant inflammation and damage to the bladder, which often leads to painful symptoms and urinary complications.
In more severe cases, it can prove fatal.