Talk of Generation K is moral panic - but why is ketamine use on the rise?

Reports of an epidemic are overblown but increased abuse reflects the habits of young people in danger of becoming lost to the drug

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Parents, police and politicians might be forgiven for feeling complacent when it comes to drugs and young people. There is a sense we have been breeding a generation of goody two-shoes. Among the 16-24 age group, almost every illegal substance has been getting less popular - a trend echoed across the rich world. The most likely explanation is that young people now spend more time thinking about their health and less time partying, preferring to hole up indoors on their phones.

Which makes a rise in ketamine abuse all the more startling. Tabloid talk of an "epidemic" is overblown, but users in this group have tripled since 2016. The drug has attracted attention because of its dangers - the most recent UK figures show there were 53 deaths related to ketamine in 2023, a rise of 650% since 2015. While most people only try it a few times a year, it can be highly addictive, and some as young as 21 are now having risky surgery to correct crippling bladder problems caused by frequent use. Of the children and young people in treatment for drugs in England, those reporting problems with ketamine increased from less than 1% in 2015 to 8.4% in 2024, overtaking the figure for cocaine for the first time.

Why is ketamine bucking the broader trend? Some point to the price: it can now cost as little as £10 a gram. But that is unlikely to be the whole story. After all, many other drugs are getting cheaper, even as they fall out of fashion. Street prices tend to remain stable over time (changes in the market are instead reflected in the purity): cannabis, cocaine and heroin all cost about the same in 2020 as they did in 2010.