Breaking the Silence: How Stigma in Healthcare Deepens the Harms of Ketamine Use
As ketamine use rises among young people in the UK, new evidence from Phoenix Futures—a national charity supporting people with drug and alcohol issues—reveals a troubling pattern: stigma in healthcare settings is not only harming young people and creating barriers to recovery.
Phoenix Futures’ findings draw on a new survey that highlight the voices of frontline staff and people in residential treatment. Their message is clear: stigma is not just a social issue—it’s a clinical one.
The Hidden Harm: Stigma in Healthcare
People in treatment with us described serious bladder and kidney problems caused by their ketamine use including
· constant pain
· inability to hold urine
· urinating blood
And yet across Phoenix Futures’ residential rehabs reported that people often face dismissive, judgmental, or inappropriate comments from healthcare professionals. These experiences can have devastating consequences:
Delayed or denied care: Some urology departments require people to be drug-free for six months before treatment, creating a catch-22 for those in urgent need.
Embarrassment and shame: Incontinence leads many to avoid seeking help altogether.
Stigma as a barrier to recovery: People reported feeling judged or blamed for their health conditions, which discouraged them from engaging with services.
Younger people have traditionally face difficulties in accessing residential treatment as they do not fit the typical profile of a residential client. One staff team noted that ketamine stigma was an added layer of stigma for younger people, who often experience disbelief or minimisation of their symptoms. This compounds the trauma many are already carrying.
The Need for Compassionate, Informed Care
Phoenix Futures is calling for a shift in how ketamine-related harms are addressed:
Training for healthcare professionals on the physical and psychological effects of ketamine use.
Trauma-informed approaches that recognise the complex reasons behind substance use.
Non-judgmental language and attitudes that foster trust and dignity.
Specialist pathways for ketamine-related health issues, including bladder and kidney care.
Why This Matters
Stigma doesn’t just hurt feelings—it costs lives. When people feel judged, they disengage. When they disengage, they deteriorate. And when they deteriorate, the personal cost and the burden on health and social care systems grows.
A Call to Action
The Anti-Stigma Network champions the importance of dignity and respect in care and had identified many areas of good practice but Phoenix Futures’ evidence reinforces the urgent need for change for people affected by ketamine use. We must ensure that healthcare is a place of healing—not harm.