Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool opened the UK's first clinic for young people with ketamine-related bladder damage in May 2025; an analysis found it has received 103 referrals. Its first 60 patients were ages 13–15, and experts warn the damage can be irreversible.
The analysis, published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, found most patients were girls from deprived areas. Many reported using ketamine for a year or more, so some may have begun at age 12 or younger.
Heavy or long-term recreational use can damage the bladder, urinary tubes and kidneys, causing frequent urination, incontinence and blood in the urine. Alder Hey consultant Harriet Corbett said some young people develop chronic pain and incontinence, while severe cases may require major surgery or dialysis. The clinic says it offers a non-judgmental space to plan stopping ketamine use and preventing further harm.
