Child ketamine users getting bladder damage describe 'peeing a jellyfish'
Doctors at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool report that children as young as 13 are suffering severe bladder damage from ketamine use, describing the sensation as 'peeing a jellyfish.' The UK's first dedicated NHS clinic for this condition has seen a rapid escalation in referrals, with many young patients using the cheap drug to manage emotional trauma or pain. Prolonged abuse can lead to incontinence, kidney failure, and the need for surgical intervention, highlighting a growing public health crisis among youth.
- ▪Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool has received over 100 referrals since opening its dedicated ketamine bladder clinic in May.
- ▪Many of the young patients started using the drug at age 12 or younger, often to cope with emotional trauma or pre-existing conditions like ADHD.
- ▪Of the first 60 patients seen by the clinic, 43 were girls, and symptoms include painful urination, blood-stained urine, and incontinence.
- ▪Ketamine is currently a Class B controlled substance in the UK, though there are calls to reclassify it as Class A due to rising abuse rates.
- ▪Children under 16 face barriers to accessing inpatient detox services that are available to adults, limiting their treatment options.
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| Publication time | Wed, 23 Sep 2026 07:27:24 GMT |
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Child ketamine users getting bladder damage describe 'peeing a jellyfish'Image source, Getty ImagesByMichelle RobertsDigital health editorPublished8 hours agoChildren as young as 13 are getting ketamine bladder damage, doctors running the UK's first and only dedicated NHS clinic for it have told the BBC in an exclusive interview. Medics at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool say some patients - they have had over 100 referrals since opening last May - describe "peeing a jellyfish", which is some of the bladder's protective lining being shed. Prolonged damage can lead to incontinence or uncontrolled peeing, and even kidney failure. Many children at the clinic had been taking ketamine for a year or more, meaning some may have started when they were 12 or younger.
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