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Ketamine Addiction Among Young Prisoners Sees Sharp Rise
Ketamine treatment cases in UK prisons rose to 675 in 2024/25, a 46% increase in one year and 168% over the past decade, with young offenders up 80%, UKAT Group data shows.
- The UKAT Group found prisoners receiving ketamine treatment reached a record high of 675 cases in the 2024/25 reporting year, a 46% increase from the previous year.
- Failure of community early intervention has meant many in custody with long histories of trauma, mental illness, and substance misuse, according to The UKAT Group, as ketamine cases rose 46% in a year.
- Among young offenders, recorded cases for ketamine treatment rose 80%, from 15 to 27 in 2024/25, while government health data shows record addiction levels in prisoners.
- The rise is increasing demand on prison healthcare and drug services, straining capacity, and The UKAT Group warned without specialist ketamine services and continuity of care on release, authorities are "simply reacting at the most dangerous point".
- Ahmed, Director of Addiction Therapy at The UKAT Group, called it a 'deepening addiction crisis across the entire secure estate', urging treatment-focused responses as prisoners and young offenders are part of society.
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Total News Sources26
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Center
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources are Center
56% Center
L 33%
C 56%
11%
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