Alder Hey children’s hospital in Liverpool has opened the first specialized ketamine clinic in the UK for young people, responding to a surge in urological problems connected to ketamine use among minors.
Analysis of the clinic’s first 60 patients revealed the average age was 14, with cases documented in children as young as 13. Approximately two-thirds of patients were girls, and a similar proportion lived in the most deprived areas. The condition, known as ketamine-induced uropathy or ketamine bladder, results from sustained drug use causing chemical damage to the bladder lining and muscle tissue. Symptoms include frequent urination, loss of bladder control, and blood in the urine. Some affected children require incontinence pads and urinate into buckets at their bedside due to the severity of their symptoms.
According to consultant paediatric urologist Harriet Corbett, the damage caused by ketamine can be severe and potentially irreversible, affecting the bladder wall through ulceration and fibrosis. In the most serious cases, patients may require major surgery or dialysis. Corbett noted that doctors are seeing increasing numbers of children presenting with bladder symptoms caused by non-prescribed ketamine use.
The patient cohort showed significant additional vulnerability factors. Of the 60 patients analyzed, 16 had autism or ADHD or both, one in five had experience in the care system, and nearly 72% had experienced emotional trauma during childhood. Researchers emphasized the importance of understanding the broader context of each patient’s life and circumstances.
The clinic operates using a non-judgmental approach, offering young people a safe environment to discuss their situations while developing plans to cease ketamine use and prevent further health damage. Experts stressed that the condition is preventable through understanding the factors associated with youth ketamine use and addressing underlying vulnerabilities.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI