Government Seeking Advice from Experts on Ketamine Classification
On Wednesday, January 8th, 2025, the government announced their plans to seek advice on the classification of ketamine, a common drug among young people in the UK. The government is considering whether ketamine should remain a Class B substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 or be moved to Class A, the most tightly regulated group. This news has been covered by various media outlets, including the BBC.
Fiona Spargo-Mabbs, the DSM Foundation Director and founder, and mother of Dan Spargo-Mabbs, stated, “Ketamine is the most commonly mentioned substance by 15-18 year olds after those more widely available to young people – alcohol, nicotine in various forms and cannabis.” She also mentioned that the foundation’s survey, sent to students before delivering drugs education workshops, showed that around one in five students named ketamine as a commonly used substance among their peers. Spargo-Mabbs emphasizes the importance of providing young people with non-judgmental and up-to-date education about drugs, including ketamine, in order to empower them to make informed decisions and keep themselves safe.
The decision to seek advice on the classification of ketamine came after an increase in its prevalence in the UK in recent years. It was also prompted by concerns raised by Senior Coroner Alison Mutch following her investigation into the ketamine-related death of James Boland in October 2024. Mutch found that ketamine had been chosen over Class A drugs because it was perceived as having less risk, which ultimately led to tragic consequences. According to data from the year ending March 2024, nearly 270,000 people aged 16 to 59 years in England and Wales reported using ketamine in the previous 12 months, putting them at risk of serious health problems such as irreversible damage to the bladder and kidneys.
Ketamine is also commonly used in spiking incidents and has been cited as an ingredient in “pink cocaine”, a dangerous combination of drugs that was recently in the news following its involvement in the death of One Direction singer Liam Payne.
The DSM Foundation, a drug education charity established in 2014 after the accidental overdose death of 16-year-old Daniel Spargo-Mabbs, provides young people with relevant, evidence-based information about drugs in order to help them make safe decisions. The foundation currently works with almost 750 schools, colleges, and community organizations to educate children and young people about drugs. They also offer workshops for parents and caregivers, as well as training for school and college staff. To help spread awareness, the DSM Foundation commissioned a verbatim play titled “I Love You Mum, I Promise I Won’t Die” to tell Dan’s story in the words of his family and friends. The play is available for schools to study as part of the Eduqas syllabus, and schools can also access free, age-appropriate, and evidence-based drugs education resources from the foundation’s website.
For more information about the DSM Foundation and their work, visit their website at https://www.dsmfoundation.org.uk/. Media inquiries can be sent to media@dsmfoundation.org.uk.
This news story was distributed by Pressat on behalf of the DSM Foundation.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.