Richard Middleton warned that more young adults are at risk of death from the ‘highly addictive and harmful’ drug unless the Home Office takes action
A coroner has called for government intervention over a ketamine ‘epidemic’ that is killing off young people in Britain.
Richard Middleton warned that more young adults are at risk of death from the ‘highly addictive and harmful’ drug unless the Home Office takes action.
Mr Middleton said the Class B drug – which killed Friends actor Matthew Perry – is plaguing young Brits with devastating and fatal bladder issues.
The coroner’s warning comes following the death of a 26-year-old from Weymouth, Dorset, who was found dead at his home while awaiting bladder surgery to fix the issues caused by misusing ketamine.
Just three months ago, another coroner, Alison Mutch OBE, urged the government to re-classify ketamine as a Class A drug following the death of a 38 year old in Manchester. Ketamine – a powerful horse tranquilliser – has become popular in Britain recreationally with young people for its anaesthetic effects.
Globally it became famous as the drug that killed 54 year old Hollywood star Perry, who played Chandler Bing on Friends, in 2023.
The drug causes major issues to the bladder and kidneys.
Abuse of the drug causes ketamine cystitis – commonly known as ‘ketamine bladder’ – which is a complication that results in more frequent weeing, painful weeing, and more severe bladder issues.
The drug that destroys bladders is now the drug of choice for young people and the number of users has doubled in five years. Border officials reported record seizures last year – 2,046 compared to 1,337 in 2023.
The Mirror has revealed how Britain’s ketamine capital is Liverpool, with drug busts on Merseyside more than five times the national average. North Wales, Lancashire and Cumbria were not far behind.
Dorset-based coroner Mr Middleton called for the government to take action following the death of 26 year old Weymouth man Joshua Leatham-Prosser.
Mr Leatham-Prosser was found dead in June 2023 after a history of abusing ketamine.
Mr Middleton warned that ketamine attacks the bladder like ‘acid attacks to the skin’ and said users experience ‘vicious cycles’ that make them relapse.
He said: “Mr Leatham-Prosser had started taking Cannabis as a young teenager and at the age of 17 progressed on to taking ketamine.
“He did not perceive this to be any more harmful than cannabis.
“The evidence before the inquest was that ketamine was a highly addictive drug.
“Ketamine cystitis is an emerging epidemic in the younger population with access to this drug seemingly easy to acquire.
“The extremely harmful effect of this drug on the bladder is akin to acid attacks on the skin.
“Patients seen by urologists are abusing the drug to the extent required to damage the urinary tract to the point of requiring major reconstructive surgery.
“The only way patients know how to relieve their symptoms is with ongoing ketamine use. A vicious cycle develops worsening the urological condition and reinforces dependence on the drug with high rates of relapse.”
Mr Middleton suggested it should be reclassified.
The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has until April 25 to respond to Mr Middleton’s Prevention of Future Deaths report.
In November last year Manchester coroner Ms Mutch raised similar concerns following the death of 38 year old ketamine user Jamie Boland, from the city.
Mr Boland – founder and owner of a trendy coffee company in Manchester – had previously switched from Class A drug cocaine because he thought ketamine was ‘less harmful’, it was heard.
Ms Mutch has suggested that ketamine should be re-classified to prevent people from thinking it is not dangerous.
Last week Addiction expert Lee Fernandes told The Mirror: “Ketamine is going to be the next drug crisis for the UK. It is literally everywhere – in schools, on the streets, mixed into other synthetic drug cocktails like ‘pink cocaine’.
“It is cheap to buy, easy to get hold of and not perceived to be as dangerous as other drugs like cocaine, heroin or ecstasy, making it extremely appealing for the younger generation experimenting with drugs.”
