Ketamine: support for young people and parents/guardians
Introduction
Ketamine is a drug that some people use recreationally. It can affect how you think and feel, and using more, or using more often, can increase the risk of harm.
Many people find that, over time, ketamine starts to have a negative impact on their lives. This might include money worries, problems with relationships, health issues such as low mood, or needing to use the toilet more often.
If you are using more frequently and it is starting to feel hard to control, you’re not alone - and support is available.
You can talk to people who will listen without judging and help you make a plan to cut down safely.
If someone is in immediate danger or has collapsed, call emergency services straight away.
The safest thing is not to use ketamine in the first place.
Things to be aware of
Using more, or using more often, increases the risk of harm
Ketamine affects how people think and feel, and can impact their physical health. Frequent use increases the risk of bladder damage, memory problems, and changes in mood.
Avoiding accidents: Ketamine affects how people think, move and react
If ketamine is around, or you think someone you know has taken it, be aware that it can make people unsteady, confused, and vulnerable to accidents. Try and direct people to safe and calm places and avoid areas where someone could be at risk - such as near water, roads, heights, or isolated places.
Mixing ketamine with other substances is dangerous
Mixing with other substances, in particular alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines (like Diazepam or Xanax), can increase your risk of overdose, accidents, and breathing problems. This may make you more likely to lose consciousness, injure yourself, or stop breathing.
Never use ketamine to cope with or manage bladder pain
Ketamine may ease pain in the short term; but it will cause more long-term damage and pain.
Look after your health
Staying hydrated, eating well and getting enough sleep can help protect your physical and mental health. Ketamine can irritate the bladder and affect how your body processes fluids, so it’s important to pay attention to any changes.
If you’re supporting someone who you think might be using, encourage them to stay hydrated, take breaks, and check in with how they’re feeling.
Notice changes and reach out for support
If you or someone you care about starts to notice changes in their physical health, it’s important to pause and get support. Ketamine can irritate the bladder and affect how people feel physically and mentally, so paying attention to early signs can help prevent things getting worse.
This could include:
Mild bladder pain or UTI‑like symptoms
Blood in your urine
Difficulty peeing, or needing to go more often
Feeling unusually confused or disoriented
You don’t have to manage this alone. A GP can help you understand what’s going on, and your local substance use service can offer confidential advice and support.
If you’re supporting someone who might be using, check in with them, encourage them to talk about how they’re feeling, and help them reach out for medical advice if they mention bladder pain or changes in how often they need to pee.
Support for young people
If you want to reduce your ketamine use, these steps can help:
Talk to someone you trust - a friend, family member, teacher, youth worker or GP. Saying it out loud can be a big first step.
Get specialist support from a local drug and alcohol service. They can help you set goals, manage cravings, and reduce risks, at your pace.
Make a simple plan: When are you most likely to use, who are you with, and what could you do instead in that moment?
Track your use: How often, how much, and how you feel after. Patterns are easier to change once you can see them.
Look after your health: sleep, food, and hydration make a real difference to mood and decision-making.
What support for you can look like
You might be offered a chat (in person, online, or on the phone), help setting small goals, and support with anything linked to use (stress, anxiety, college/work, friendships).
Services will explain what they keep private and when they may need to share information to keep someone safe.
Support for parents/guardians
If you’re worried about your child or a young person you care for, support is available for you too.
You don’t have to handle it on your own.
Start with a calm conversation: Choose a quiet time, explain what you’ve noticed, and ask open questions. Try to avoid threats or labels.
Focus on safety: If they are mixing substances, driving, using alone, or frequently becoming very unwell, it’s important to get help quickly.
Know some possible signs of harm: Changes in mood, memory or concentration problems, spending more time away, secrecy about money, or repeated urinary problems (pain, urgency, blood in urine). These signs can have other causes too, but they’re worth checking.
Get advice: You can contact local drug and alcohol services for guidance as a parent/guardian, even if the young person isn’t ready to speak to someone yet.
Look after yourself: Supporting someone can be stressful - make space for your own support network.
Additional resources
For details of organisations who can support you, please visit our alcohol and drug webpage Alcohol and drugs - Lancashire County Council