FCMS is working in partnership with local organisations to raise awareness of the growing health risks associated with ketamine use, particularly the serious condition known as ketamine bladder.
In recent months, FCMS has been linking closely with Blackpool Council following an increase in ketamine use among young adults aged 19 – 22 across the Fylde Coast. However, it is important to note that ketamine bladder can affect individuals of any age who use the drug.
What is Ketamine Bladder?
Ketamine bladder is a serious and often debilitating medical condition caused by prolonged exposure to ketamine. The drug can cause severe inflammation and damage to the lining of the bladder and urinary tract.
Over time, this damage can become permanent and irreversible, significantly affecting a person’s quality of life and leading to ongoing pain and urinary complications.
Working Together to Improve Awareness and Support
To address this growing issue, FCMS has established a Ketamine Stakeholder Group for the Fylde Coast, with the aim of improving awareness, education, and support pathways for patients.
As part of this initiative, FCMS is working closely with Project K in Blackpool to:
- Raise awareness about ketamine bladder
- Help clinicians recognise the signs and symptoms earlier
- Improve support for individuals affected by ketamine use
- Ensure appropriate referral into specialist urology services when needed
Following the group’s initial meeting, FCMS clinicians are now able to link directly with Project K when patients of concern are identified. This partnership enables patients to receive the support they need at an earlier stage.
Recovery practitioner, Mollie Wilson, explained why the group is so important:
Recognising the Symptoms
One of the challenges with ketamine bladder is that it can often present similarly to a recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI), which can delay diagnosis.
Healthcare professionals and individuals should be aware of the following symptoms:
- Severe urinary frequency and urgency
- Nocturia – waking multiple times during the night to pass urine
- Chronic pain in the lower abdomen, pelvis, or bladder (often described as a “hot knife” sensation)
- Incontinence, sometimes requiring the use of pads
- Haematuria – passing blood, clots, or jelly-like tissue in urine
- Reduced bladder capacity, where the bladder can shrink to 100ml or less (compared to around 500ml in a healthy bladder)
Early recognition is vital to ensure patients receive appropriate care and support as quickly as possible.
Continuing the Conversation
The Ketamine Stakeholder Group will continue to meet regularly as part of FCMS’s ongoing commitment to tackling this emerging health issue across the region, and plan to share this information across the organisation over the coming months to our clinical and non clinical staff.
If you are a healthcare professional or organisation interested in joining the stakeholder group or contributing to this work, please get in touch with the team.
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, Dr Nigel Laycock shares why he is concerned about Ketamine usage and is joined by recovering Ketamine user Finley Worthington, who shared his experience in a bid to raise awareness of the impact the drug has on lives.
Access the latest briefing and guidance from the Public Health team on Ketamine below:
Ketamine support in Blackpool
