Ketamine horror as youngsters’ use of dreadful drug soars

Some 225,000 people in that age group took the Class B substance in the 12 months to March last year.

That is 3.8% of all those aged 16 to 24 – nearly one in 25 – which is triple the rate of five years earlier.

They were the biggest age group among the 303,000 users that year. Overall use was up 89% since 2018, the Home Office National Crime Survey shows.

The drug, used by vets as a horse tranquilliser, can be deadly if mixed with substances including alcohol.

The Priory Group of psychiatric hospitals has seen a 34% rise in inquiries for ketamine addiction treatment over the past year, and nationally over the previous eight years there has been a 350% increase.

Dr David McLaughlan, an addiction specialist at the Priory Roehampton, said: “On average, a hit of ketamine will cost you £3. We’re seeing fewer young people drinking alcohol, but instead they’re using more drugs like ketamine.”

Yet despite it becoming the country’s fourth most popular illegal drug, just 31 dealers were charged with selling it last year.

Now the mum of a student who died aged 18 after taking the drug on her first night at university is calling for the Government to treat ketamine more seriously and introduce longer sentences for those dealing in it.

Jeni Larmour, a former deputy head girl of her school in Co Armargh, Northern Ireland, died just hours after mum Sandra dropped her off at her student accommodation at Newcastle University in October 2020 where she was due to study architecture and urban planning.

She collapsed after taking ketamine with new flatmate Kavir Kalliecharan, who got a two-year conditional discharge after admitting possessing ketamine, MDMA and cannabis. Sandra said: “People seem to be getting away with doing these things.”

Policing minister Chris Philp said the Government monitors the evidence and could order a review into upgrading ketamine to Class A if there is a systemic problem.

Possession of Class B drugs is punishable by up to five years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. Dealers face up to 14 years.