Children as young as 13 being referred to UK hospital suffering from ‘ketamine bladder’
Summary
Children as young as 13 in the UK are being treated at a new clinic for a serious bladder condition caused by long-term ketamine use. The clinic at Alder Hey children’s hospital helps young people, mostly girls from poor areas, who suffer painful bladder damage due to ketamine addiction.Key Facts
- The UK’s first ketamine clinic for young people opened at Alder Hey children’s hospital in Liverpool.
- The bladder condition, called ketamine-induced uropathy or ketamine bladder, is caused by damage from ketamine and its breakdown products.
- Symptoms include frequent urination, bladder pain, loss of bladder control, and blood in the urine.
- Some children affected are as young as 13, with most patients being girls living in deprived areas.
- The clinic’s first 60 patients had an average age of 14, with many having autism, ADHD, or childhood emotional trauma.
- Damage from ketamine use can be irreversible, sometimes requiring major surgery or dialysis.
- The clinic uses a non-judgmental approach to help young people stop using ketamine and prevent further harm.
- Researchers found that understanding personal and social backgrounds is important to support these young patients.
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