Children as Young as 13 Developing Bladder Damage from Ketamine Use, Study Finds

Children as young as 13 are experiencing severe bladder damage as a result of ketamine addiction, according to an alarming study from a specialist NHS clinic in Liverpool.

Ketamine-induced uropathy (KIU), also known as ketamine bladder, is a painful condition that occurs when the drug damages the bladder, urinary tubes, and kidneys. Symptoms include frequent urination, loss of bladder control, and blood in the urine.

The UK's first clinic dedicated to treating KIU opened in May 2025 at Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, prompted by an increase in young people presenting with the condition. An analysis of the clinic's first 60 patients revealed an average age of 14, with some starting ketamine use as early as 13.

Researchers from Alder Hey and Lancaster University found that these children had typically been using ketamine for one to two years before being referred. The study, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, also noted that half of the patients reported using other drugs concurrently with ketamine. Additionally, over a quarter (27 percent) consumed alcohol, and 48 percent reported vaping.

The majority of patients, around two-thirds, were girls, and a similar proportion resided in the most deprived areas. Sixteen patients had diagnoses of autism, ADHD, or both, and one in five had experience with the care system. Furthermore, nearly three-quarters (72 percent) had experienced childhood emotional trauma.

Ms. Harriet Corbett, a consultant pediatric urologist at Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, highlighted the escalating number of young people referred with ketamine-related bladder issues. "What this first year of analysis has highlighted is the importance of understanding the young person behind the diagnosis," she stated. "By looking at factors such as age, where they live, their background and their life experiences, we can start to build a much clearer picture of who is being affected and how we can best support them."

Corbett emphasized the potentially devastating and irreversible effects of ketamine on the bladder, which can lead to chronic pain, incontinence, and, in severe cases, the need for major surgery or dialysis. "This problem is preventable. Understanding more about the young people who are presenting to us is an important step towards preventing further harm," she added.

Professor Rachel Isba, a consultant in pediatric public health medicine at Alder Hey and professor emerita at Lancaster University, stressed the need to examine the broader context of ketamine use. "Ketamine use does not happen in isolation, and our analysis is helping us explore the different factors that may be associated with young people developing serious health problems," Professor Isba explained. She added that the findings would help inform interventions and service development to identify at-risk young people and provide support before irreversible damage occurs.

The Alder Hey clinic adopts a "non-judgmental" approach, aiming to provide a safe space for young people to discuss their experiences and develop plans to cease ketamine use and prevent further harm.