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A coroner has urged the government to reconsider the dangers of ketamine after a woman died from the effects of a 10-year habit.
Gemma Weeks, 28, used up to £500 of ketamine a week, Dorset coroner Brendan Allen said.
She was found dead at her Dorset home in January from toxicity and bladder damage caused by the Class B drug, an inquest concluded.
Mr Allen said the “highly addictive” substance was being increasingly abused by young people, who sometimes “naively” considered it to be safer than Class A drugs.
In a Prevention of Future Deaths Report, sent to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, he said he was concerned that ketamine had become “easily, widely and cheaply available”.
The coroner added: “It is also highly addictive, with reports of usage notably increasing in young people.
“Ketamine’s classification as a Class B controlled drug may give an impression that the dangers associated with its use are reduced as compared with Class A drugs.
“There is little understanding of the risks and dangers of ketamine use amongst the age group that appear to be at most risk of starting to use the drug.”
The coroner said Ms Weeks, who was originally from Axminster, Devon, suffered from a bladder condition which caused considerable pain and incontinence.
He wrote: “[She] was unable, even with considerable support, to achieve a sustained period of abstinence.
“She reported that the pain caused by the damage to her bladder could only be relieved by the analgesic properties of ketamine, thereby leading to further and increased use, causing further bladder damage.”
The Home Office has until 14 October to respond to the coroner’s concerns.
In a statement, it said: “Ketamine is an extremely dangerous substance and the recent rise in its use is deeply concerning.
“The Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention has requested advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs about reclassifying it as a Class A drug and will consider that advice carefully and quickly once received.”
In a statement, Ms Weeks’ sisters and mother described her as “an absolutely beautiful young lady with a heart of gold”.
They added: “Ketamine took Gem’s life, and stole her from ours.
“Had Gem known the road it would lead her down I can guarantee she would have never taken ketamine that very first time.
“If this article being published makes a difference or changes a potential outcome to at least one person’s life, then I know she would approve.”
