Cetamine helped me to escape negative thoughts – then he almost killed me

Young people use the drug because it is cheap, easy to find and helps to “disconnect” doctors warn.

NOTICE: contains reports of suicide thoughts

Abbie was 16 when she started using ketamine. It was the first time that he felt in control of everything.

The negative thoughts that persecuted her from a young age began to disappear.

Twelve years later, he still fights the addiction that has almost taken her life.

After spending a period of detoxification, Abbie has decided to speak openly to warn on what makes cetamine such a popular drug – especially among young people with mental health problems – and the damage that the substance can cause long -term.

Abbie’s warning comes to light while the first clinic of the NHS is inaugurated – the British public health service – dedicated to helping young people with cetamine related problems. Patients up to 12 years are treated.

Cetamine is different from many other illegal drugs due to the way it interacts with the brain.

In some medical contexts, the substance is used as anesthetic within experimental palliative treatments and in the treatment of serious cases of depression.

Small quantities of this drug can cause euphoria and excitement, while larger doses can bring to the so called “K Hole”, a state of dissociation in which the user feels out of reality – as if he had an extracorporeal experience.

The number of children under the 16 problems of reporting with the drug has almost doubled in the last two years, overcoming cocaine in popularity between children and adolescents.

Almost half (49%) of the people who started the treatment of drug use in 2023-2024 reported having a mental health problem and over a quarter of them has not received any treatment for this.

Experts warn that some young people are consuming dangerous quantities of ketamine not only for low cost and ease of access, but also for the dissociative effects it causes.

“We are witnessing a perfect storm,” says David Gill, founder of Risk and Resilience, a company that trains professionals at the forefront of the new drug trends.

“Young people have to do with depression, trauma, anxiety and lack of services – and there is an economic drug that helps them disconnect.”

Abbie’s first time with ketamine was just like that. He says he felt “in a place of great power”.

“My thoughts no longer struck me negatively – life followed me, but I didn’t have to be involved.”

Abbie’s childhood was difficult. With mental health problems and disorder by treatment and hyperactivity deficit (ADHD) not diagnosed, he abandoned the school at 14 years of age and has immersed himself in a whirlwind of alcohol, drugs and troubled relationships.

Despite the dependence that marked his youth, he managed to participate in the university, was sober during the course and graduated in the health area.

Intelligent, articulated and determined, he discovered himself after two illegal and control relationships: cetamine has become his only escape for trauma.

When he searched for medical assistance, he received only sleep and was oriented to “stop with ketamine”.

“Abstinence was terrible. I trembled and vomited,” he says. “He wasn’t just deciding to stop, as if it were easy.”

A deeper dependence was established soon.

“At the beginning, I was proud to keep my values ​​and not lie. But I couldn’t stop me and I started hiding the use of my friends.”

The situation has worsened. Abbie started using ketamine every day – relentlessly. He took a shower only when he was about to find the trafficker on the street.

The physical effects began to appear: an intense abdominal pain, known as “k-craps”, made it scream in pain. He wore hot bags to relieve and burned the skin. So he brought more ketamine to anesthetize pain.

What is ketamine?

Cetamine is a drug used in medicine and veterinary for its sedative properties, although its hallucinogenic effects also make it a dangerous compound if consumed as a recreational substance.

In the same medical community, although it is widely used as anesthetic, sedative and analgesic, ketamine generates diversity of opinions due to its strong dissociative properties.

In the National British Health System (NHS) and in public services in other countries, ketamine is used as sedative, anesthetic and analgesic.

It also has a widespread use in animal sedation.

The first molecule was synthesized in 1962 by Professor Calvin Lee Stevens team of Wayne State University in Michigan, in the United States.

Two years later, this molecule was tested during a clinical study and was quickly introduced into clinical practice as anesthetic.

In recent years, several studies have explored the use of ketamine to treat serious vices and cases of depression.

This cycle of abuse is something that Professor Rachel Isba, a public health consultant, also sees the physical effects of the use of ketamine within her clinic for children under the age of 16.

The use of chronic drugs can cause uropathy induced by ketamine, a relatively new condition that affects the bladder, kidneys and liver. Inflammation of the bladder can be so serious that it requires its removal.

“The first signs are severe abdominal pain, blood urine and secretions similar to gel from the bladder coating,” explains Isba.

“Patients receive large treatments: treatment with the urology team and psychological and social support when necessary.”

“Completely helpless”

Sarah Norman says he felt like a “silent spectator” who sees his 25 -year -old daughter Maisie “disappearing before her eyes”.

Last year, he discovered that Maisie was dependent on cetamine, which had already caused irreversible damage to the kidneys.

“We are a normal family,” says Sarah. “I would never have imagined that it would be dependent on drugs: he doesn’t even drink alcohol.”

Maisie kept secret out of shame. He started using drugs at festivals, as recreation, but soon he could no longer live without it.

His partner ended up leaving with his three -year -old son.

“I no longer had to live,” says Maisie. “A point came where I had a career smell [de cetamina] After the other. “

Her mother and sister brought her to the hospital: she weighed only 32 kg.

“The doctors said his body was stopping working. We thought we would lose it.”

Maisie had to wear renal nephrostomy pipes – which dry up urine on external bags that leads to date.

Even after surgery, it was still slow to leave the drug. But after getting a vacant place in detoxification, he hasn’t worn for five months.

Sarah shares the story of her daughter on Tiktok and leads other parents.

“This drug is horrible. Many young people suffer from her,” he says. “But I am very proud of corn. He goes to the meetings of anonymous narcotics every night. I don’t know if I would have had the strength he had.”

‘Rehabilitation or coffin

Abbie has been rejected twice by the public detoxification system in the United Kingdom, he says that he even considered suicide.

“Everything was a chaos around me, the services did not help and I just wanted to end everything.”

After sending a five -page letter to the commission that evaluates the orders, it has finally obtained access to a detox and rehabilitation service.

“I had three choices: rehabilitation, compulsory hospitalization – or a coffin.”

It has been treated in the same unit more. He says he is sober and proud of the advance, but says that the treatment has not faced his trauma.

“I can take care of myself, I’m going well. But the real job starts now, outside the clinic. And now that I am sober, I hope to get the support for mental health that I needed so much when I used it.”

A spokesperson of the Department of Health and Social Assistance stated that, within the ten -year plan to reform the NHS, the government intends to be “more bold in prevention rather than only cure diseases”.

“This government is reducing the use of drugs such as ketamine, ensuring that more people receive timely care and support and making our paths and communities safer.”

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Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.