What is driving the increase in ketamine use among teenagers?

The pervasive use of social media, characterized by 'doomscrolling,' is linked to a rise in ketamine use among teenagers, as it contributes to a lack of genuine social connections.

How has ketamine use changed among children in recent years?

Government figures show that the number of children reporting issues with ketamine has tripled between the 2021-2022 and 2024-2025 periods.

What are the health risks associated with ketamine?

Ketamine can cause dissociative effects and is particularly damaging to the bladder, potentially leading to incontinence or the need for organ removal in heavy users.

Home / Health / Teens' Ketamine Use Soars Amidst Doomscrolling Crisis

Teens' Ketamine Use Soars Amidst Doomscrolling Crisis

27 Jan

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Summary

Social media doomscrolling linked to rising ketamine use in teens.
Ketamine use among children has tripled in under five years.
Lack of real-life connections drives youth to numb themselves with drugs.

Teens' Ketamine Use Soars Amidst Doomscrolling Crisis

Social media's pervasive influence is being identified as a key driver behind a significant increase in ketamine use among teenagers. Addiction expert Zaheen Ahmed highlights that 'doomscrolling' on smartphones contributes to a failure in forming meaningful intimate connections, leading young people to seek solace in drugs like ketamine. This trend is alarming, with government figures indicating that the number of children reporting ketamine issues has tripled between the 2021-2022 and 2024-2025 periods. The drug, often referred to as 'K' or 'Special K,' is also linked to student deaths and is known for its dissociative effects and potential for severe bladder damage. The NHS launched the UK's first ketamine teen addiction clinic in Liverpool last July due to a rise in young users, some as young as 12. This surge occurs even as Gen Z reportedly shuns other drugs, while deaths related to ketamine have drastically increased by 650% since 2015.