Ellie Wight's ketamine addiction cost her £35,000 and left her incontinent at 23, now she warns others about the drug's devastating effects.
At just 18 years old, Ellie Wight of Aberdeenshire experimented with ketamine at a friend’s gathering. What started as occasional weekend use quickly spiraled into a full-blown addiction, leaving her with severe health consequences and financial ruin by the time she turned 23.
Wight’s story serves as a stark warning about the dangers of ketamine, a Class B substance often perceived as a harmless ‘party drug.’ Her experience highlights the growing problem of ketamine abuse among young people and the devastating physical consequences that can result.
From Recreational Use to Addiction
Wight’s ketamine use began after she stopped smoking cannabis daily, a habit she had maintained since age 16. She recalls, ‘All of a sudden, people were doing it and it was cool. You get a thrill from doing something you shouldn’t.
‘ The drug’s availability and peer pressure contributed to her rapid descent into addiction.
The financial toll was staggering. Wight estimates she spent approximately £35,000 on ketamine during her addiction, with prices ranging from £10 to £20 per gram. Dealers offered discounts for bulk purchases, creating a dangerous cycle of increased use and spending.
The Devastating Health Consequences
Wight’s turning point came when she was hospitalized with a kidney infectionwhich she initially mistook for recurring urinary tract infections. Within months, she developed ketamine urinary tract syndromecommonly known as ‘ketamine bladder.’
This condition causes scarring and stiffness in the bladder, severely reducing its capacity. Wight describes the excruciating symptoms: ‘I was peeing blood quite a lot and passing mucus from my bladder. The pain was horrendous.‘ In severe cases, the condition can affect the entire urinary system, including the kidneys.
Wight’s bladder capacity has been reduced to just 50ml to 100ml, a fraction of a healthy bladder’s 300ml to 600ml capacity. Last month, she underwent Botox injections in her bladder in an attempt to alleviate the pain and improve function. Despite these interventions, she continues to live with the lasting effects of her addiction.
Recovery and Advocacy
Now clean for 10 months, Wight is focused on her recovery and raising awareness about the dangers of ketamine. She describes the recovery process as unpredictable and exhausting, with pain levels varying daily. To support her cause, she is fundraising for addiction support groups and plans to walk the 96-mile West Highland Way this summer.
Wight has also had to make difficult decisions to protect her recovery, including cutting ties with friends linked to her former drug use. She acknowledges the loneliness that can come with breaking away from old social circles but emphasizes the importance of self-preservation.
Despite concerns from experts and coroners, ketamine remains classified as a Class B substance. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) recently rejected a proposal to upgrade it to Class A, meaning penalties are unlikely to change. This decision has raised concerns about the potential for users to underestimate the drug’s dangers.
Wight’s story is a powerful reminder of the devastating consequences that can result from ketamine abuse. Her advocacy work aims to educate others about the risks and encourage those struggling with addiction to seek help.
