29-04-2025
Recovering ketamine addict who's been left in constant pain warns others against using drug
WATCH: Mitchell Woodhouse is awaiting major surgery on his bladder, which he needs as a result of his ketamine addiction. He's been telling ITV Meridian's Grace Williams about his experience.
A 22-year-old man from Waterlooville, who is recovering from a ketamine addiction, is pleading with others not to use the drug.
Mitchell Woodhouse first experienced drugs when he was at a festival, aged 13.
Three years later, when socialising with friends, ketamine became his drug of choice, as it's cheaper than other drugs.
Having seen what the drug could do, but being unable to stop, Mitchell promised himself he'd no longer use when it started to have a longer lasting effect.
Mitchell said: "My first target as I sniffed it, I was setting myself a goal of, when my cartilage deteriorates, I'll stop. It got to a point when one day, I was cleaning my nose and I saw the tissue from the other side and I thought, enough's enough, I need to stop but I was so heavily addicted to the drug, I couldn't stop."
The years of chronic ketamine use has left Mitchell with ketamine bladder.
This is when the lining of the bladder shrinks in volume, causing users to become incontinent.
Like others with the condition, Mitchell is in constant excruciating pain. He struggles to get out of bed and is unable to go downstairs.
Mitchell, who is open about his regret, said: "I can no longer work, I can no longer eat with my family down at the dinner table. I struggle to sleep most nights because I'm in pain…
"It's all fun and games at the start but you will end up in this position. People will laugh you know, because I looked at other people who were damaged and I used to think, oh that's never going to happen to me, I'm fine you it did."
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is used in the NHS as an anaesthetic and for pain relief, and is also commonly used on animals.
Ketamine usually comes in a crystalline powder or liquid. Also known as Super K and Donkey Dust, ketamine is often much cheaper than other drugs.
Charities say they are seeing more evidence of the drug being used alone by individuals. Previously, it's been seen as a 'party drug' due to the hallucinogenic effects it has on users.
Mitchell now needs a major operation on his bladder, similar to that of patients with bladder cancer.
He's been waiting for months for the procedure, which he hopes will transform his life.
One Urologist at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth says he's seen a 10-fold increase in referrals for ketamine bladder over the last 8-10 years.
Richard Robinson, consultant urological surgeon, said: "A healthy bladder will hold about 5-600 millilitres of urine, whereas, for someone who's been extensively using ketamine who's got severe symptoms, their bladder will typically shrink to about the size of a ping pong ball.
"There is no quick fix for this. This is a devastating consequence of drug misuse that, even if we operate, and we can really turn people's lives around with the surgery, it carries long term implications. These patients require lifelong surveillance and a lot will require further surgery in the future."
Sadly, Mitchell is one of an increasing number of young people in the UK who have experienced issues with ketamine abuse.
What are the latest statistics surrounding ketamine use?
Use of ketamine among 16-24 year olds, in England and Wales, has more than tripled since 2016. Source: ONS
An estimated 269,000 people, aged 16-59, reported ketamine use in the year ending March 2023. Source: Home Office
Cases of children reporting more issues with ketamine than with cocaine has more than doubled since 2021. Source: Office for Health Improvement & Disparities
One drugs and alcohol charity in Hampshire, says it's seen a 50% increase in people accessing treatment for ketamine use in the last three years.
Carly Goodson, Clinical Lead, Inclusion Recovery Hampshire said: "Ketamine has been around for a long time. However, it has become more accessible and is cheaper than other substances. But also, social media is making it more available, in a way. We're seeing much more evidence of young people using alone, whereas before it had been more associated as a club drug.
"Primarily my advice is talk to the right people. Come and talk to someone who you trust and come and talk to your local substance use service.
"Support from family and friends is really important in helping people recover from addiction. Feeling that you're not on your own is really important. Addiction is the disease of isolation, so having that support and also support from people that have had similar experiences is so important."
In January, the government announced that an independent review is being carried out, looking to reclassify ketamine from a class B drug to a class A drug.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are seeking advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on reclassifying ketamine to become a Class A substance.
"Through our Plan for Change and mission to make the nation's streets safer, we will work with public services including health and policing, to drive down drug use and stop those who profit from its supply."
Although the reclassification could mean harsher prison sentences for those who are producing and supplying the drug, the question from charities and those experiencing addiction, is what difference it will make to those being directly affected by ketamine.
