13 Jan 2026

Last updated: 13 January 2026

At least 299,000 people aged 16–59 in England and Wales reported illicit ketamine use in 2024 — the highest number on record.

This page compiles the latest available data (2024 + 2025) on ketamine use, related harms, trends, and treatment uptake in the UK. All figures are drawn from government publications, academic research and peer-reviewed data sets, including the latest from 2025.

Table of contents

Ketamine use in the UK

Total ketamine consumption

In 2024, an estimated 299,000 people aged 16–59 in England and Wales reported using illicit ketamine.

This figure represents the highest recorded level of ketamine use in recent years, reflecting a *rising trend beyond its traditional “club drug” reputation.

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UK ketamine use by age group, showing percentage of 16–24 and 16–59 year olds using ketamine in the past year, 2005–2024

Percentage of people that have used ketamine in the last year

Use by region

Recent data does not yet permit a fully reliable region-by-region breakdown of ketamine prevalence. However, researchers who did a report on Deaths following illicit ketamine use in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 1999–2024: note rising use across urban and rural areas alike, especially where affordability and availability are high.

Gender breakdown

While most national surveys report total users, public health researchers involved in the 2025 ketamine-death data release note a growing proportion of female users and fatalities, a shift from earlier years when male users dominated.

Popularity and growth in use

Use by age group

  • Among people aged 16-59 299,000 reported ketamine use in 2024.
  • Anecdotal reports and surveys suggest a noticeable increase among younger adults (16–24 years), though robust national data for 2024 across all age brackets
  • The Guardian reports that ketamine’s growing appeal as a “house / chill-out” drug rather than purely a party substance.

Use with other drugs

  • Fatality data shows that most recent ketamine-related deaths involve polydrug use — i.e., mixing ketamine with other substances rather than ketamine alone.
  • Experts from the University of Hertfordshire warn that this increases the unpredictability of risk and complicates harm reduction and treatment.

Availability and affordability

  • One of the factors driving ketamine’s popularity is cost: researchers cite ketamine’s lower street price (often £15–30 per gram) compared with many other illicit stimulants.
  • Cheap price, ease of access, and growing social acceptability outside traditional “club” settings appear to make it more attractive among a broader demographic.

Ketamine and health

Health impact statistics

Ketamine-related deaths

  • A 2025 analysis of coroner reports (1999–2024) found 696 total deaths with detections of illicit ketamine across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland — the most comprehensive review to date.
  • This represents a twenty-fold increase in ketamine-related deaths since 2014.
  • The most recent data indicates approximately one ketamine-related death per week across the UK for 2023–2024.
  • Bladder and kidney issues clinicians increasingly report chronic bladder and urinary tract complications among frequent users — from painful inflammation and frequent urination to severe long-term damage requiring surgery.
  • Although precise national-level figures are scarce, the rise in bladder-related hospital admissions linked to ketamine supports a growing health burden.

Ketamine addiction treatment

According to the latest national data (2024–2025), ketamine problems accounted for 3.2% of all new entrants to adult substance misuse treatment services — up from 2.3% in 2023–2024.

The number of people entering ketamine treatment has surged: 5,365 individuals in 2024–2025, compared with only 426 in 2014–2015 — more than a 12-fold increase over a decade.

These increases suggest a gradually rising recognition of ketamine dependence and an expanding need for specialised treatment and rehab services.

Find support for ketamine addiction

If you or someone you know is struggling with ketamine use or dependence, don’t hesitate to contact our fully trained Treatment advisors. Early intervention can reduce harm — including the risk of serious health complications, chronic bladder damage, or overdose.

At Rehabs UK, our services include:

Contact Rehabs UK for confidential support and guidance

Bibliography

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