‘Secret ketamine addiction killed my daughter’ – BBC

Report on the Public Health Crisis of Ketamine Abuse and its Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

This report details the escalating public health crisis associated with ketamine abuse, particularly among young people in the United Kingdom. Using the case of Beth Ashton, a 25-year-old who died from complications of long-term use, this analysis highlights the severe physiological damage caused by the drug. The crisis directly undermines key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), but also impacts SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The report examines the contributing factors to addiction, rising statistical trends, and community-led responses aimed at mitigating this growing threat.

2.0 Case Study: The Health Consequences of Ketamine Abuse

The case of Beth Ashton, 25, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, provides a stark illustration of the devastating effects of ketamine. Her health deteriorated rapidly, culminating in her death in November of the preceding year.

2.1 Physiological Impact

Medical findings and maternal testimony indicate a catastrophic decline in physical health. Key symptoms included:

• Complete collapse and disintegration of the bladder, a condition known as ketamine bladder syndrome.
• Excruciating and constant pain, requiring palliative measures that caused secondary injuries such as skin burns.
• A perforated lung.
• Severe weight loss, with her body weight falling below that of a small child.

This level of rapid bodily destruction underscores the extreme toxicity of long-term ketamine use, posing a significant challenge to public health systems.

3.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being

The rise in ketamine addiction is a direct impediment to achieving SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The crisis specifically contravenes Target 3.5: “Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.”

3.1 Failure to Meet SDG 3 Targets

• Increased Morbidity and Mortality: The long-term use of ketamine leads to irreversible organ damage and premature death, increasing the burden on healthcare services.
• Mental Health Complications: The case study suggests a link between significant personal trauma, such as stillbirth and bereavement, and the onset of serious substance abuse. This highlights a critical gap in mental health support systems, another key component of SDG 3.
• Cyclical Addiction: A noted complication is that the drug is used to numb the severe pain it causes, creating a destructive feedback loop that makes recovery exceptionally difficult without specialised intervention.

4.0 Community-Led Response and Educational Initiatives

In response to this crisis, community-led initiatives have emerged. Natalie Tolan, the mother of Beth Ashton, founded the organisation West Lancashire Ketamine Awareness. This work directly supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) by providing critical, life-saving information to vulnerable populations outside of formal education systems.

4.1 Objectives of West Lancashire Ketamine Awareness

1. To raise awareness among young people and parents about the specific and severe dangers of ketamine.
2. To collaborate with local councils and police forces to develop a coordinated community response.
3. To counter the normalisation of ketamine use within youth culture.
4. To support families affected by substance abuse through shared experience and information dissemination.

5.0 Statistical Trends and Youth Vulnerability

Data indicates a significant and worrying trend in ketamine abuse among minors. This trend is exacerbated by criminal elements, posing a threat to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), which seeks to end abuse, exploitation, and trafficking.

5.1 Key Statistics and Findings

• According to the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System, the number of individuals under 18 seeking treatment for ketamine addiction in England rose from 335 in 2020-21 to 917 in 2023-24.
• Reports suggest drug dealers are targeting children with low prices, described as “pocket money prices” as low as £8 per gram, making the substance highly accessible to minors.
• The consequences are already visible in schools, with reports of children wearing incontinence pads due to ketamine-induced bladder damage.

6.0 Conclusion and Recommendations

The death of Beth Ashton is a tragic indicator of a wider societal problem that threatens public health, community safety, and the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals. The rapid physiological damage caused by ketamine, combined with its increasing prevalence among young people, demands an urgent and multi-faceted response.

Addressing this crisis requires strengthening public health messaging, enhancing mental health support for trauma victims, and supporting community education initiatives. Furthermore, a robust law enforcement response is needed to disrupt supply chains that target vulnerable youth, thereby upholding the principles of SDG 16. Failure to act decisively will result in further preventable deaths and a failure to meet the global commitment to ensure good health and well-being for all, as outlined in SDG 3.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The entire article is centered on the devastating health impacts of substance abuse, specifically ketamine. It details the physical deterioration and premature death of Beth Ashton, highlighting issues of addiction, mental health, and the need for public health awareness. The story of Beth, who suffered from a perforated lung and a collapsed bladder, directly relates to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.4: Reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

  The article discusses the death of a 25-year-old woman, Beth Ashton, due to the long-term physical damage caused by ketamine abuse. Her death is a clear example of premature mortality. The article also touches on mental health, suggesting Beth’s drug use escalated after traumatic events, including a stillbirth. Her mother’s campaign, “West Lancashire Ketamine Awareness,” is a form of prevention aimed at stopping other young people from suffering the same fate.

• Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.

  This target is directly addressed. The article focuses on the tragic consequences of ketamine addiction. It highlights the need for prevention through awareness, as Natalie Tolan “has now dedicated her life to spreading awareness.” It also points to the need for treatment, mentioning that the number of young people seeking treatment for ketamine addiction is rising and that Natalie’s organization works with young people and parents to address the issue.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 3.5: Number of individuals seeking treatment for substance abuse.

  The article explicitly provides data that serves as an indicator: “In England, the number of under-18s seeking treatment for addiction who describe ketamine as a problem rose from 335 to 917 between 2020-21 and 2023-24, according to the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System.” This statistic directly measures the prevalence of the problem and the demand for treatment services among young people.

• Indicator for Target 3.4: Mortality rate attributed to substance abuse.

  While not providing a national statistic, the article implies this indicator through its central narrative. The death of Beth Ashton, and the mention of other ketamine-related deaths like that of Matthew Perry, serve as case studies for mortality caused by substance abuse. Tracking the number of such deaths would be a way to measure progress in reducing premature mortality.

• Indicator for Target 3.5: Implementation of prevention and awareness programs.

  The article describes the creation and activities of “West Lancashire Ketamine Awareness,” an organization founded by Natalie Tolan. This organization’s work—hosting coffee mornings, working with “young people, parents, councils and police to spread the message”—is a qualitative indicator of community-led prevention efforts being implemented to combat substance abuse.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bbc.co.uk