A WARNING has been issued by St Helens Council to young people and their parents about the use of ketamine and dangers it poses.

Ketamine is a general anaesthetic that reduces sensations in the body, including the ability to feel pain – putting people at risk if they hurt or injure themselves as they won’t always be aware.

Regular ketamine use can cause agitation, panic attacks, damage to short and long-term memory and depression, if taken frequently.

The council says that, anecdotally, local support services have noticed a rising trend in use of ketamine among young people.

The local authority says young people are presenting at GPs and A&E with abdominal complaints, with ketamine sometimes causing cause serious bladder, kidney and liver problems, which can be very painful.

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Some of the damage caused may be irreversible, meaning long term health problems.

Street ketamine is usually sold as a white or beige crystalised powder and is sometimes cut with other powders to add weight and improve the dealer’s profits.

It is impossible to tell whether the ketamine someone buys has been cut with other substances by looking at it.

  • Anyone concerned about their own or other’s use of ketamine, or other drugs or alcohol, is asked to please contact the relevant service. For under 19s, contact the Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Team on 01744 675605 or visit sthelens.gov.uk/ypdaat . For adults aged 19 and over contact CGL on 01744 410752 or visit www.changegrowlive.org