Marika, our Life Course Group Facilitator, has been working with Jess*, who has struggled with ketamine addiction since her teens. Here’s part of her story.

As a teenager, Jess never would have imagined that by 32, she’d be navigating a challenging recovery journey. Alcohol, cocaine and ketamine gradually took hold of her life, with ketamine ultimately having the strongest grip. This pattern is increasingly common among young people in the UK today. Ketamine usage amongst 16-24 year olds is four times higher than the national average, and has tripled since 2016.

Originally developed as a dissociative anaesthetic, ketamine is primarily used in veterinary medicine. It gained popularity as a recreational drug in the 1990s, especially within rave culture, where its hallucinogenic effects were valued in techno, trance and similar music scenes. In fact, Bristol has such a strong association with ketamine that one of its nicknames is “Bristol Crystal.” Despite the closure of clubs during the COVID-19 pandemic, ketamine use remained high, likely due to its psychologically addictive nature, which is arguably even more intense than its physical effects. Users isolated at home may have sought escape from stress, loneliness, or difficult home environments. It is also much cheaper than other drugs – around 1/10 the price of cocaine.

Jess’s story reflects this reality. She first tried ketamine at 18 after a night out, initially using it socially, before escalating into solitary use. Over time, this dependency made her anxious and introverted, numbing her to the emotions and challenges in her life. As a teenager, this inhibited her emotional development, leaving her struggling to regulate her emotions. When she tried to quit, she felt overwhelmed, leading her to believe she couldn’t cope without it.

The physical toll of ketamine was severe. Jess’s tolerance grew rapidly, leading to bladder and kidney infections, ‘k cramps’, and frequent nosebleeds. Her eyesight and hearing also deteriorated. Despite the physical damage, she struggled to stop. It wasn’t until she reached out for help that things began to improve. Feeling hopeless, and realising she had nothing to lose, Jess contacted Bristol Drugs Project. Through them, she was referred to additional support services and began attending 12-step meetings. With support from others in recovery and dedicated professionals, her confidence grew and began to see a life beyond addiction.

Jess’s story highlights both the devastating impact of ketamine and the power of recovery. She has journeyed with us through the Life Course, and, whilst it’s not been plain sailing, has been highly committed, and humble to learn, grow, and eventually, help others facing similar challenges. Her story shows that recovery is not linear, but every setback can be used as an opportunity to learn. That’s why she helped me to write this article.

*pseudonym.