Doctors at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool have reported serious bladder damage linked to ketamine use in children as young as 13. Its specialist NHS clinic has received more than 100 referrals since opening in May 2025.

Cases have risen sharply, from one young patient in 2023 to nine in 2024, followed by a rapid increase in 2025. Some children may have started using ketamine aged 12 or younger.

Prolonged use can cause severe bladder pain, incontinence and kidney damage. Some children continue taking ketamine to relieve the pain caused by the drug, creating a cycle of worsening symptoms.

Some young patients have experienced emotional trauma, have ADHD or have spent time in the care system. Doctors report that some use ketamine to manage emotional distress.

Clinicians have raised concerns about the lack of inpatient detoxification services for under-16s, leaving some children unable to access treatment available to adults.