Help at hand after spike in youngsters’ drug use

CHILDREN as young as 13 have been seeking help with ketamine as abuse of the drug has risen by 59% in Swansea in the last six months.

Teenagers have desperately been seeking help to wean themselves off the recreational drug following the major rise during lockdown.

More and more people are looking for help from Barod, the Welsh substance misuse charity, as a result of their abuse of ketamine.

A 16-year-old service user said their health had been destroyed through the use of the drug.

The teen is speaking out about their harrowing ordeal and said: “I was attracted to ketamine because of the feeling the drug gave me.

“But now I know what it can do, like destroy my sex life, damage my bladder, and cause me continual pain in my stomach and lower regions.

“It’s not a nice thought and would ruin my life.

“I definitely wouldn’t recommend others using it now I know what it can do.”

The spike in the use of ketamine, a dissociative anaesthetic, has led to a nationwide campaign to inform people of the lifechanging impact of the drug.

Urinary incontinence and kidney damage are among the problems seen in older people.

The campaign, called Through the K-hole, aims to share advice and harmreduction information from Barod’s substance misuse experts.

Jamie Harris, service manager for Swansea Barod and deputy director of Chill Welfare, which provides welfare support to festival-goers, said: “At a low dose, ketamine is a sedative. However, as the dose increases, the central nervous system can become almost disconnected from the body.

“When used at a much higher dose, it becomes a general anaesthetic, causing people to essentially go into a coma.

“The drug comes with a number of challenging side effects, including hallucinations, severe kidney damage, and addiction.

“However, it’s important to remember that if you’re intent on taking ketamine, you must do so with someone you trust, who could help you should you get into trouble.”

Katherine Lane, service manager for Barod’s Cwm Taf service, said: “Many of our young people are reporting using ketamine as a problem drug. It’s primarily taken for recreational use and often alongside other drugs and alcohol.

“For young people it is problematic to their physical and mental wellbeing, causing pain in the stomach known as ‘K cramps’.

“They may also experience other issues such as symptoms of cystitis and bladder infections, which can result in serious problems later on in life.

“If you or someone you know require support, you can get in touch with our service (DASPA 0300 333 00 00) to discuss how we can support you.

“As a service we can offer access to up-to-date information, education and awareness, and support with access to GPS.

“Please do reach out and speak to Barod with regard to your use of drugs so you can make an informed decision about using ketamine.”

Information will be made available through Barod’s young persons’ services and social media platforms on Twitter and Facebook, including @ wearebarod

Go to https://barod. cymru/ for support as confidential information advice is on offer through the live webchat service on Barod’s website or from a local service centre.