In recent years, ketamine has emerged as a favorite drug in various corners, from tech bros to raves, to medicine. Indeed, more and more people are opting for ketamine therapy for mental health, but its use without medical supervision can lead to addiction, and even death.
That’s exactly what’s happening in the United Kingdom, a region with an alarming history regarding drug misuse and insufficient harm reduction policies. 2023 saw record numbers of deaths from cocaine and opioid overdoses. Today, another report reveals more worrying numbers: ketamine-related deaths have increased tenfold from 2014 to 2024.
The study, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, seeks to provide relevant information in the context of the possible rescheduling of ketamine in the UK.
Ketamine in the UK: The Numbers Behind the Crisis
To prepare this report, the research team used data from the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality, which receives regular voluntary reports from coroners on drug-related deaths.
Between 1999 and 2024, 696 deaths related to illicit ketamine use were recorded in the region. Over time, the trend shows a sharp acceleration, with 15 deaths recorded in 2014 compared to a projected 197 cases for 2024; a figure more than ten times higher.
The report also notes an increase in polydrug use, that is, the combination of ketamine with other substances (mainly cocaine, opioids, and alcohol), which substantially increases the risk.
Furthermore, the report reveals the socioeconomic status of those who have died from ketamine abuse in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The majority are white men in their 30s and 40s, and an increase in fatal cases has been noted among unemployed people or those in economically disadvantaged areas.
Regarding the causes of this discouraging trend, the study cites the increase in ketamine use worldwide and its low cost on the illicit market as partly responsible.
So, what do the researchers propose to counter this crisis? Specifically, the report suggests “overdose prevention centres, expanded drug checking services, targeted education about the risks of polydrug use, better integration of ketamine use into treatment services and streamlining of referrals to clinical pathways.” It also highlights the “importance of addressing structural determinants such as deprivation, unemployment and housing instability as part of any comprehensive drug policy response.”
In this sense, the team responsible for the study joins the increasingly repeated call from health professionals around the world: harm reduction, education, and containment policies for the most vulnerable sectors. Until states become aware of this much-needed change of course, these harmful trends will only continue to increase.
