NHS Grampian has launched Scotland's first specialized clinic to address a concerning rise in severe bladder and urinary tract damage among teenagers attributed to ketamine use. The clinic at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary is dedicated to treating "ketamine bladder," a condition characterized by excruciating pain, incontinence, and in extreme cases, the need for bladder removal.
Consultant urologist Justine Royle, who established the clinic, noted a "significant spike" in young people, aged 16-24, experiencing ketamine-related harm. She emphasized the urgent need to communicate the serious consequences of ketamine usage on the bladder, kidneys, and liver to young people so they can make informed decisions.
Experts suggest that while some teenagers use ketamine recreationally for its sedative and hallucinogenic effects, others are using it as a form of self-medication for anxiety and depression. Public Health Scotland's drugs team head, Dr. Tara Shivaji, warned that many young people perceive the Class B drug as readily available, affordable, and safe, often underestimating its risks compared to other illicit substances.
Ketamine, originally developed as an anesthetic in the 1960s, is typically consumed as a liquid or powder. Users may experience a "k-hole," a dissociative state where they feel detached from reality. Regular users are increasingly presenting with painful, inflamed bladders, frequent and urgent urination, incontinence, and severe abdominal pain known as "k-cramps."
Early symptoms can mimic a urinary tract infection, but in some cases, the drug causes incontinence or renders the bladder non-functional. Dr. Shivaji added that in severe instances, surgical removal of the bladder may be the only option.
One patient, Ellie Wight, 24, began using ketamine at 18, describing it as cheap, accessible, and providing an escape from her thoughts. However, she soon experienced severe bladder damage, with her bladder shrinking to hold only 50-100ml, a fraction of its normal capacity. Wight underwent Botox injections to relax her bladder muscle and is scheduled for further procedures to attempt to expand it. She is now drug-free and has established a support group for young people recovering from ketamine use.
In addition to the clinic, NHS Grampian has initiated an outreach program in schools, with specialist nurses educating pupils about the physical dangers of ketamine. Scotland's drugs minister, Maree Todd, has urged other health boards to follow NHS Grampian's example in establishing similar services.