Ketamine is an increasingly popular recreational drug of choice for teens and this is a drug that no one should take. However, as a parent or foster carer you may not be able to stop children and young people coming into contact with it. Being informed could help the teenagers in your care to make the right decisions if they do.
Known by various nicknames -Ket, K, Kenny, Special K – Ketamine is a stimulant that in larger doses provides you with an “out-of-body” experience”, hallucinations, distortion of time and panic amongst other effects.
Also it affects you physically. You may lose control over you body, have difficulty speaking or experience numbness or nausea.
In legal terms, Ketamine is controlled as a Class B drug. The penalties for possession of this drug in the UK are up to five years in prison or an unlimited fine, or a combination of both. Dealing carries a 14 year prison sentence.
According to the government crime survey for England and Wales. “The proportion of 16 to 24-year-olds using the drug rose in 2017-2018 from 1.2 percent to 3.1 percent” – the highest figure since records began in 2006-2007.
Foster carers and parents need to be aware of the real harm that ketamine use can have to young people’s physical and mental health.
Advice for Foster Parents and Foster Families
- Don’t assume children in your care won’t take Ketamine! Anyone in any environment or circumstance may choose it or be encouraged to try it.
- Access to Ketamine is easier than you might think. Teens especially can get access via their phones or it may be a friend or at an event where it seems normal to participate.
- Ketamine has no visible signs. There are no clues to look for such smell or bloodshot eyes. A line of Ketamine can be done very quickly which is a problem in a school environment.
- Ketamine and alcohol do not mix. It does not take much of either substance, taken in combination to have a deadly impact.
- Warn children of Ketamine’s strength. If they are going to do it, then only take a really, really small amount. It so much stronger than any other recreational drug like cocaine.
- Widespread use of Ketamine. It’s found in schools and rural areas and it’s cheap compared to other recreational drugs. The effects are short-lived and it does actually help reduce anxiety – so its a real option for young people dealing with anxiety from school pressures.
- Ketamine can cause serious bladder damage. This drug has a toxic effect on the lining of the bladder and so it makes people want to go to the toilet more. Addicts as young as 16 have had to have their bladders removed meaning they have to wear a colostomy bag for the rest of their life.
- Spot signs if your child has a problem. If they become withdrawn and irritable, this can be a sign of drug use – not just Ketamine. Cystitis problems may be an indication of Ketamine addiction. Because K is a dissociative drug, people on it seem completely separate from their environment – like zombies – which is very distressing for parents and family members.
Although not considered to be physically addictive, tolerance to Ketamine builds up very quickly, so higher doses are needed to achieve the same desired effects. Also, this can lead to experimentation combining with other drugs and alcohol which in turn increases the risks.
To help parents and foster carers and also those who may be considering using Ketamine there are some excellent resources, advice and helplines available. Follow the links below for more information.
Substance Misuse Resources : Ketamine Harm Reduction Information
Substance Misuse Resources : Ketamine Frequently Asked Questions
TALK TO FRANK (www.talktofrank.com): Ketamine
Drug Science (www.drugscience.org.uk): Ketamine
Providing a foster home for a teenager is just one of the specialist types of fostering that you can offer as a foster carer. Find out more about the options here.
