




Welcome!
This page is here to help you understand the risks of ketamine misuse, how it can affect your life, and where you can find support if you're worried about yourself or someone else.
What Is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a powerful drug originally developed as an anaesthetic, which means it was created to numb pain during surgeries. While it can be used legally in medical settings, it's become popular as a recreational drug.
Ketamine is often referred to as “Ket”, "K" and "Special K”.
When taken for fun, ketamine can make people feel detached from their surroundings or even from their own bodies. This "out-of-body" feeling may seem exciting at first, but ketamine misuse can quickly turn dangerous.
What are the Effects of Ketamine Misuse
Misusing ketamine can have serious consequences. Let’s look at how it can affect you physically, mentally, and beyond:
Physical Effects:
Ketamine slows down brain and body functions, making it hard to move or even think clearly.
It can cause a dangerously high heart rate, affect your breathing, and in large amounts, it can put you into a coma.
Excessive use can damage your bladder, leading to painful urination or permanent damage that may require surgery.
Psychological Effects:
Frequent ketamine use can lead to addiction. Users may feel like they need the drug to escape reality.
It can lead to anxiety, paranoia, memory loss, and depression.
In some cases, it might cause terrifying hallucinations or out-of-control thoughts, which could linger long after the drug has worn off.
Criminal Consequences:
Ketamine is illegal for recreational use, and getting caught with it can lead to serious legal trouble.
A criminal record can affect your future job prospects, educational opportunities, and even your ability to travel.
The Ripple Effect:
The decisions you make don’t just affect you—they can impact the people around you.
Misusing drugs like ketamine can strain friendships, hurt your family, and cause you to lose trust from those who care about you.
If you put yourself in risky situations while using ketamine, like driving or making poor choices, you could hurt yourself or someone else, causing lasting harm.
Who Can I Turn to for Help?
Young People's Drug and Alcohol Team (YPDAAT)
St Helens Young People's Drug and Alcohol Team (YPDAAT), provide young people and their families in St Helens with a range of interventions to help them to make informed choices around drug and alcohol use in order to achieve their full potential.
Website
yaz.sthelens.gov.uk/main-sections/drugs-alcohol/
Telephone
01744 675 605
CGL - Change, Grow, Live
CGL are here to support you if you want to make positive changes to your drug or alcohol use.
CGL are a drug and alcohol service for adults aged 19+, families and carers in St Helens. They offer a wide range of support including one-to-one appointments and group work.
As well as drugs and alcohol, they offer support with health and wellbeing, criminal justice, domestic abuse and homelessness.
Website
Telephone
01744 410 752
Frank
Honest information about drugs
Website
Telephone
0300 123 6600
Addiction Family Support
A safe space for people impacted by a loved one’s harmful use of alcohol, drugs or gambling. We listen, understand and support.
Website
www.addictionfamilysupport.org.uk
Telephone
0300 888 3853
About The Project




