Police boss in call for ketamine to be made Class A

Ketamine should be reclassified as a Class A drug to protect young people, Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner has said.

Clive Grunshaw has written to the Policing Minister outlining his views on ketamine use harming communities.

He said its reclassification "would send a clear message about the severity of its use and the impact it has, put organised crime gangs in behind bars for longer, and protect the public".

Earlier this year the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs recommended that ketamine should remain Class B, to ensure people can feel more able to come forward for support.

Ketamine is a licensed drug and can be prescribed medically.

However, when misused, it can cause serious and sometimes permanent damage to the bladder, leading to infections, bleeding, blockages and incontinence.

Grunshaw said it is "endemic" and "a significant issue" particularly amongst young people "because of how cheap it is and how easy it seems to be for young people to get hold of".

"It's something we really need to clamp down on," he said.

"Because young people think that it has no consequences, that its not serious and that's why it does need to be reclassified into a Class A.

"It sends out the message for how serious taking ketamine is."

He said suppliers "need to know that once they're caught, they will feel the full force of the law, and by supplying a Class A drug, that is significantly more severe".

Finley Worthington set up Ketamine Education Services in Burnley to support people in recovery from ketamine addiction after he experienced "years of pain" due to ketamine misuse.

He said the drug had long-term effects - causing "physical and mental pain" - and has urged anyone struggling to reach out for support.

"There is a better life waiting and things do get better," he said.

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