What are the symptoms of ketamine-induced bladder problems in children?

Children may experience an urgent need to urinate frequently, wetting the bed, or finding it difficult to use the bathroom at night, sometimes resorting to incontinence products or buckets.

Why is ketamine damaging children's bladders?

Ketamine and its breakdown products can damage the bladder lining and muscle tissue over time, leading to inflammation and a reduced bladder capacity.

How can young people get help for ketamine-related bladder issues in the UK?

The first specialist NHS clinic for young people with ketamine-related urology problems has opened at Alder Hey children's hospital in Liverpool.

Home / Health / Liverpool Kids Battle Ketamine Bladder Crisis

Liverpool Kids Battle Ketamine Bladder Crisis

18 Feb

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Summary

Children use pads and buckets due to ketamine-induced bladder problems.
A new NHS clinic in Liverpool treats young people with ketamine urology issues.
Early intervention is crucial to prevent lifelong medical interventions.

Liverpool Kids Battle Ketamine Bladder Crisis

A groundbreaking NHS clinic in Liverpool is addressing a growing crisis of ketamine-induced bladder damage in young people. Medics at Alder Hey children's hospital have established the UK's first specialist facility to treat adolescents, aged primarily 14-15, who are suffering severe urological issues from ketamine use. Some patients, who may have started using the drug as early as 12 years old, experience such urgency to urinate that they use incontinence pads or buckets beside their beds, fearing the pain and difficulty of reaching a bathroom.