Children as young as 13 are experiencing ketamine bladder damage, according to doctors at the UK's first and only dedicated NHS clinic for this condition. Medics at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool, which opened in May, have received over 100 referrals.
Some patients describe the sensation of 'peeing a jellyfish', which indicates the shedding of the bladder's protective lining. Prolonged damage can result in incontinence, frequent urination, and potentially kidney failure.
Many children treated at the clinic had been using ketamine for a year or more, with some potentially starting as young as 12. Professor Rachel Isba, who runs the clinic, noted that some children use ketamine to alleviate pain, creating a 'vicious cycle' as the drug is also an anaesthetic.
The British Association of Urological Surgeons states that approximately three out of every 10 frequent ketamine users develop bladder issues. While stopping drug use can sometimes reverse the damage, severe cases may require surgical repair or even bladder removal.