Ketamine’s Hidden Danger! 24-Year-Old Faces Bladder Damage
At 14, Megan Harmes tried ketamine. By the time she was 22, her bladder was damaged and she had to wear incontinence pads. At age 24, the woman from Flint, North Wales, is in rehab and claims she is on the road to feeling like herself once more. Her story highlights the cost of more young people going to rehab for ketamine use.
From curiosity to daily use
During the Covid-19 lockdown period, Megan was working at home as an aeronautical engineering apprentice, and she used it more during this period. She explained that it helped soothe unsettled emotions, and eventually became a regular routine. Later she lost her apprenticeship. It was difficult to stop at night: she took ketamine to keep her awake even on her days off.
She experienced a lot of pain and was unable to stand straight for two years. She said she felt she lost her dignity when she wore pads at 22. She has been in rehab for over 4 weeks, and feels physically better, though it is not determined whether her bladder damage can be corrected.
Referrals are rising
The charity Kaleidoscope says its Birchwood service in Wales received two ketamine-related referrals in 2021 and 112 so far in 2026. Most clients are aged 18 to 24, and ketamine accounts for around half the people it currently supports.
Official figures show a wider treatment challenge. In England, 1,465 children aged 17 and under in drug treatment reported ketamine problems in 2024–25, up from 512 in 2021–22. Among adults starting treatment in England, the number reporting ketamine problems rose from 426 in 2014–15 to 5,365 in 2024–25 more than twelve times higher.
These figures count people entering treatment, not everyone using the drug. Separate estimates put illicit ketamine use at about 264,000 people aged 16 to 59 across the UK in 2024–25.
Why the harm can be serious
Ketamine is used as an anaesthetic in healthcare, but unsupervised use can cause serious harm. Long-term use may damage the bladder and urinary tract, causing pain, frequent urination and leaks. It can also harm the kidneys and affect memory. Experts say some long-term effects and the best ways to treat them remain unclear.
A University of South Wales researcher says younger users may need help with physical illness, mental health and family problems at once. Peer support and care without judgement can help people seek help and stay in recovery.
Getting help early matters
Megan’s experience shows that ketamine is not harmless because it is cheap or easy to find. Anyone with pain, urinary problems or concerns about drug use should speak to a healthcare professional or drug support service early. Asking for help is not failure; it can be the first step towards recovery.
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