You're not alone

Reaching out is the hardest part, and you've already started. Ketamine addiction is more common than most people realise, and there is a way through this.

Talk to someone you trust

A friend, a family member, or anyone who can support you while you take the next steps. You don't have to explain everything at once, just start the conversation.

Contact your local community drug service

Find your local provider via FRANK's support finder. You do not need a GP referral, you can request an appointment yourself, directly.

They'll build a care plan with you, and this is the fastest, most important step

Your local drug and alcohol service can offer recovery support and treatment options including at-home detox support, and an inpatient, medically managed detox unit for more complex cases. They can also help with pain management. Together, you'll create a care plan covering all your options, including:

• Residential rehab
• Community day rehab
• Structured groups
• Detox within a residential rehab

These are available through most councils in the UK. Community support is free, and some options, such as residential rehab, may be means-tested through adult social care. Either way, ask about everything on offer, and don't let up if you're told otherwise.

You can also go down the private route if you'd rather, and that's a completely valid choice. If you do, check the provider is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (or the equivalent regulator if you're looking outside the UK), and that they specialise in ketamine addiction specifically, not just addiction in general.

What good support looks like

A recovery worker or care manager will lay out all your options with you. If there are medical complications, they'll liaise with your GP with your consent, and the same applies if there's a mental health element. Lower-threshold talking therapies are offered early on where useful, and aftercare follows once treatment is underway: support groups, community day rehab, and things like meditation or acupuncture.

While you're getting through withdrawal:

• Stay hydrated and try to eat regularly, even if your appetite is low
• Expect anxiety, low mood, sleep problems, cravings and "k-cramps" during withdrawal. These are common and ease over the first couple of weeks
• If symptoms feel too severe, or you have any thoughts of harming yourself, contact your GP, call 111, or in an emergency call 999 or Samaritans on 116 123

Diet, pain management, pelvic floor health, and CBT/DBT therapy all matter once treatment is underway too. See the In Recovery tab above for more, and our Recovery Guides for the full detail.

Ongoing support

Recovery doesn't stop after treatment. Peer support groups and aftercare make a real difference in staying well long-term. Ketamine Anonymous International keeps an up-to-date list of online recovery meetings, and there's a directory of online & in-person support groups. You can also find in-person groups near you on the Find Support Near You tab.

Know the signs

Signs can be subtle, especially early on, and are often mistaken for normal teenage moods or tiredness.

Start the conversation

Choose a calm moment, lead with care rather than confrontation, and let them know you're on their side. Try "I read something about ketamine recently and it made me think of you, can we talk?" rather than leading with accusations.

Contact their local community drug service

Find their local provider via FRANK's support finder. You can do this together. They do not need a GP referral, they can request an appointment directly, or you can help them do this.

They'll build a care plan together, and this is the fastest, most important step

Their local drug and alcohol service can offer recovery support and treatment options including at-home detox support, and an inpatient, medically managed detox unit for more complex cases. They can also help with pain management. Together, they'll create a care plan covering all the options, including:

• Residential rehab
• Community day rehab
• Structured groups
• Detox within a residential rehab

These are available through most councils in the UK. Community support is free, and some options, such as residential rehab, may be means-tested through adult social care. Either way, ask about everything on offer, and don't let up if you're told otherwise.

Going private is also a completely valid choice if that's an option for your family. If you do, check the provider is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (or the equivalent regulator if you're looking outside the UK), and that they specialise in ketamine addiction specifically, not just addiction in general.

What good support looks like

A recovery worker or care manager will lay out all the options with them. If there are medical complications, they'll liaise with the GP with consent, and the same applies if there's a mental health element. Lower-threshold talking therapies are offered early on where useful, and aftercare follows once treatment is underway: support groups, community day rehab, and things like meditation or acupuncture.

While they're getting through withdrawal:

• Help them stay hydrated and eat regularly, even if their appetite is low
• Expect anxiety, low mood, sleep problems, cravings and "k-cramps" during withdrawal. These are common and ease over the first couple of weeks
• If symptoms feel too severe, or there are any thoughts of self-harm, contact a GP, call 111, or in an emergency call 999 or Samaritans on 116 123

Diet, pain management, pelvic floor health, and CBT/DBT therapy all matter once treatment is underway too. See the In Recovery tab above for more, and our Recovery Guides for the full detail.

Ongoing support

Recovery doesn't stop after treatment. Peer support groups and aftercare make a real difference. Ketamine Anonymous International keeps an up-to-date list of online recovery meetings, and there's a directory of online & in-person support groups. You can also find in-person groups near you on the Find Support Near You tab.

Look after yourself too

Supporting someone through addiction takes a toll. You deserve support too, so don't carry it all alone. A good first step: Parent Support Link runs a 24-hour helpline, groups, and 1-1 support for anyone affected by someone else's substance use, including a dedicated group for parents and carers of ketamine users. Call 023 9039 9764 or visit pslcharity.org.uk.

Diet & bladder comfort

A damaged bladder is very sensitive, and acidic, spicy and caffeinated food and drink are common triggers for flare-ups. Our eating guide has the food lists and a simple way to find your own triggers.

Read the bladder-friendly eating guide

Rebuilding nutrition

Severe weight loss is extremely common in ketamine addiction, since it suppresses appetite and stomach pain often makes eating harder. Rebuilding nutrition is part of physical healing, not separate from it. High-calorie, nutrient-dense drinks such as Complan, Meritene, or Ensure can help get calories and nutrients in when solid food feels difficult, and are available at most pharmacies and supermarkets. If weight loss is significant, ask a GP for a dietitian referral. Prescription nutritional drinks are also available where clinically needed.

Pain management & urology referral

Pain relief should come from a professional rather than guesswork, and the underlying cause needs looking at too. Ask your GP or drug worker about a referral to urology. Our guide covers what people in recovery have found helps, which medicines to ask about, which to be careful with, and questions to take to your appointment.

Read the recovery and pain relief guide

Pelvic floor physiotherapy

Some of the discomfort associated with ketamine-induced cystitis can be linked to a hypertonic (overly tense) pelvic floor, and this can persist even after use has stopped. A referral to a pelvic floor physiotherapist, via a GP or privately, is worth asking about, particularly if pain or urgency continues into recovery.

Box breathing

A simple, free technique that can help calm the nervous system and ease tension, including in the pelvic floor. It may also help with cramping. Breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4, and repeat. It's worth the whole family trying this together, not just the person in recovery.

Mental health support

Ketamine use, and the experience of addiction itself, can take a real toll on mental health. Therapies like CBT and DBT aren't a nice-to-have here. They're essential alongside physical treatment for recovery to last. NHS waiting lists can be long, so if it's an option, a private local therapist may offer the fastest route in. Addressing the psychological side alongside the physical is what makes recovery stick.

Managing intense emotions

The early stages of recovery can bring waves of intense emotional pain, on top of everything happening physically. While you wait for therapy, having a few basic skills to work through can genuinely help:

• Paced breathing: breathe out for longer than you breathe in, which helps calm the body's stress response
• Brief intense movement: a minute or two of star jumps, running on the spot, or fast walking can shift body chemistry and take the edge off an intense feeling
• Grounding: name five things you can see, four you can hear, three you can touch, two you can smell, one you can taste
• The STOP skill: stop, take a step back, observe what's happening, then proceed mindfully by choosing one small next action

These tools help in the moment, but they aren't a substitute for telling someone how you're feeling. Let a drug worker, key worker, or GP know, so extra support can be put in place alongside them.