Ketamine is the ‘word of the year’ for addiction specialists, as cost-of-living crisis drives 18-25 year-olds away from alcohol
Date: 27th January 2025
The cost-of-living crisis has pushed an unprecedented number of young adults towards ketamine mis-use in 2024, with the drug now being widely used as a cheaper alternative to alcohol.
Priory experts have dubbed ketamine the "word of the year" for addiction treatment specialists, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and intervention.
According to new data from Priory, the UK’s leading provider of addiction treatment services, the number of people seeking support for ketamine addiction in 2024 is more than 523% higher than just five-years ago, making it the UK’s fastest growing addiction.
Priory has received a 5% year-on-year increase in ketamine addiction treatment enquiries compared to 2023, which was itself a record year. Clinical experts report devastating consequences for users’ physical and mental health.
Claire Rimmer, Priory's lead addictions therapist based at Priory Hospital Altrincham, highlighted the impact of financial pressures: "We're seeing a significant increase in young people, particularly those aged 18-25, turning to ketamine because it's more affordable than alcohol. Many see it as a safer alternative to alcohol or other drugs, not realising its addictive potential and severe health risks.
“We have never seen so many people seeking help for this issue. Ketamine is definitely the word of the year for our addiction treatment teams.”
Priory’s evidence mirrors the latest Adult Substance Misuse Treatment Statistics report, issued last month by the UK government, which stated the number of people starting treatment with ketamine problems was more than 43% higher in 2023/4 than it was in 2022/23.
Dr David McLaughlan, a leading consultant psychiatrist specialising in addiction treatment at Priory Hospital Roehampton and co-founder of Curb Health, an addictive behaviour change app, said: "Ten years ago, ketamine was rarely seen in clinical practice. Now, I encounter at least one new case of ketamine abuse every week.
“The drug's dissociative effects can lead to severe psychological and physical health issues. The way ketamine is metabolised in the body means that 90% of it is passed through the kidneys, causing toxic effects on the bladder. This can lead to severe conditions such as ulcerative cystitis and, in extreme cases, the need for surgical procedures."
Debbie Longsdale, Priory's director of therapy, emphasised the broader mental health implications, during a year in which one in four adults are known to have experienced a diagnosable mental health condition. She said: "Ketamine use is increasingly linked to anxiety and mood disorders, which is already a growing concern among younger demographics."
The rise in ketamine use among young adults is part of a broader trend, with traditional substance use patterns are shifting. Rimmer said: "Most of the ketamine users we’re supporting - in our mental health and addiction services - hadn’t perceived the drug to be a problem. They didn’t think of it as a drug of addiction. They weren’t aware of the physical and mental health risks when they started to take the drug."
Earlier this year, Priory warned the UK is failing to address the growing problem of co-existing mental health and addiction problems and called on the government to develop a national plan to improve access to and provision of addiction services.
"It is important to address both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction," said Dr McLaughlan.
The experts revealed their insights into ketamine use during Perspectives, a panel discussion series exploring topical issues in mental health and addiction, released on the Priory YouTube channel.
ENDS
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About Priory and MEDIAN Group
Priory is the UK’s largest independent provider of mental health and adult social care services. Priory treats more than 70 conditions, including depression, anxiety, addictions and eating disorders, as well as children’s mental health, across its nationwide network of sites. Priory also supports autistic adults and adults with a learning disability, Prader-Willi Syndrome and brain injuries, as well as older people, within specialist residential care and supported living facilities – helping as many people as possible to live their lives.
Priory is part of the MEDIAN Group, the leading European provider of high-quality mental health and rehabilitation services. The MEDIAN Group comprises: Priory in the UK with 280 facilities and 5,000 beds caring for 28,000 people, MEDIAN in Germany with 120 facilities and 18,000 beds caring for 256,000 patients, and Hestia in Spain with 14 facilities and 2,000 beds caring for 10,000 people in Spain, with more than 30,000 employees across the group.