The holiday that stuck
What started as a laugh on an Ibiza holiday turned into a full-blown disaster for Wesley. A few nights of ketamine felt like harmless fun at first, but by the time he was back in his hometown the drug had followed him — and then some.
From party trick to daily problem
When he was 18, Wesley tried ketamine. By his late twenties he was in rehab, having lost his home, partner and family ties. The drug’s effects weren’t just mental — it left him rushing to the toilet every few minutes and struggling with bleeding and pain when he urinated. What began as a party high became constant physical misery.
Numbers that make you blink
Health services in north Wales have seen a massive rise in ketamine-related emergency visits. In the Betsi Cadwaladr area the figures climbed from almost nothing a few years ago to hundreds of admissions last year. Other regions reported increases too, but north Wales has been hit especially hard.
How the drug damages the body
Urologists are increasingly seeing the same pattern: people develop urgent and frequent urges to pee, blood in the urine, severe bladder pain and, in extreme cases, kidney problems. Some chronic users end up with permanent bladder damage so severe they need major surgery — and live with a stoma afterward.
The cheap, sneaky appeal
Part of ketamine’s popularity is practical: it’s relatively cheap, gives a short but intense dissociative high (think 35–40 minutes), and is easy to hide from parents or housemates. That combination makes it attractive to groups of friends who don’t want a full-blown addiction — except it sometimes sneaks up and becomes one.
Why people keep taking it even when it hurts
Many users try to self-manage pain caused by the drug — taking more ketamine to dull bladder or nasal pain caused by ketamine itself. That vicious cycle can escalate fast, turning occasional use into dependency and serious health problems.
Recovery and support
Recovery services say ketamine is a growing portion of admissions, and community groups have sprung up to help. Local support networks meet regularly and try to raise awareness about the risks, especially after several high-profile deaths tied to drugs brought public attention to the issue.
Wesley’s road back
Wesley’s not fixed overnight, but rehab has already reversed some of his symptoms. He’s getting fitter, has started playing football again, and is clear that sober life feels fresh and worthwhile. He still faces the possibility of bladder surgery, but he’s hopeful — and a little shocked — at how different life can be without the fog of ketamine.
A final note
Ketamine can seem like a cheap, harmless way to escape for a while, but for some people it brings lasting damage. If you or someone you know is experimenting and finding it hard to stop, reaching out to local services or a support group can make a big difference — and might save more than just your dignity in the loo.
