Liverpool Ketamine Crisis: Young People Get Support Fights Back 2026

Key Points

• Liverpool City Council launched its Reducing Ketamine Harms Action Plan in March 2026 to tackle rising ketamine use among teenagers and young adults.
• Since the plan’s launch, 241 young people have been referred for ketamine-related support and around 200 adults and young people are currently receiving treatment where ketamine is a primary concern.
• Close to 4,000 professionals including nurses, social workers and youth justice staff have attended ketamine awareness training delivered by River, the council’s drug and alcohol support partner.
• A specialist clinic run by Alder Hey Children’s Hospital with support from River continues to treat young people suffering ketamine-related health problems, including severe bladder damage.
• Merseyside Police is targeting organised crime and drug supply networks to reduce ketamine availability in the city and region.
• Councillor Harry Doyle and Professor Matthew Ashton emphasised that ketamine is not a low-risk drug and causes serious physical and mental health harms.

Liverpool Council (Liverpool standard) August 15, 2026 – It is starting to turn the tide on the ketamine crisis that has exploded in the city in recent years, with public health bosses reporting strong early progress since launching a coordinated action plan in March 2026. The ECHO has carried out a number of investigations into the harm young people are coming to at the hands of a drug that has become more and more prevalent and easily accessible in this city and around the country.

What is Liverpool doing to tackle the ketamine crisis harming young people?

Liverpool City Council’s public health team formulated a major action plan in response to growing concerns about ketamine use, which was officially launched in March 2026. The Reducing Ketamine Harms Action Plan brings together health services, schools, community organisations, police and youth services to raise awareness, improve access to support and reduce harm.

As reported by the Liverpool Echo, officials and medics have been warning for some time that ketamine should not be treated as simply a party drug with minimal consequences, but as a major public health threat. A uk/local/liverpool-council/">Liverpool Council report from around a year ago warned that the city is seeing a “concerning rise in the use of ketamine among teenagers and young adults.” Even more worryingly, those aged between 14 and 15 were the largest cohort of young people seeking support for ketamine use.

How many young people have received ketamine-related support since the action plan launched?

Since March 2026, the council said that close to 4,000 professionals, including nurses, social workers and youth justice staff have attended ketamine awareness sessions delivered by River, the local authority’s community drug and alcohol support service partner. In total, 241 young people in the city have been referred for support related to ketamine use since the action plan was launched and around 200 adults and young people are currently receiving support where ketamine is a primary or significant substance of concern.

Information and guidance has been shared with all Liverpool secondary schools, colleges, universities, parents and carers and this is due to be re-circulated following the summer break, and will continue to be promoted throughout the 2026/27 academic year. As part of this outreach work, awareness sessions have been delivered in school assemblies and in colleges and university campus drop-ins.

What health services are available for young people suffering ketamine-related harm?

To add to the city’s tools, a specialist run clinic by Alder Hey Children’s Hospital with support from River is continuing to help young people experiencing health-related problems because of ketamine, including bladder damage. The ECHO has spoken to young people who have suffered debilitating bladder damage and others who have found themselves spiralling into devastating mental health crises after becoming gripped by ketamine addiction.

Elsewhere, community organisations such as Lifeboat Recovery Community Hub have strengthened peer support and recovery networks, helping people access advice and support from others with lived experience. And on the criminal side, Merseyside Police continues to target organised crime and drug supply networks aiming to deal with the arrival of ketamine in our city and region.

What have council leaders said about the ketamine action plan’s impact?

Speaking about the impact the action plan has had, Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, said:

“Ketamine use is causing real harm to individuals, families and communities, particularly among young people. That’s why we launched this action plan, bringing together partners from across the city to take a coordinated approach to prevention, education, treatment and support.”

Councillor Doyle added:

“While there is still much more to do, it’s encouraging to see the progress already being made, from reaching thousands of professionals with training to improving support pathways for young people and families. We remain committed to reducing the harms associated with ketamine and ensuring that anyone affected knows where to get help.”

Professor Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool City Council, said:

“Ketamine is often wrongly perceived as a low-risk drug, but we are seeing increasing evidence of the serious physical and mental health harms it can cause, including severe bladder damage in some young people.”

Professor Ashton continued:

“The early achievements of the action plan show what can be achieved when health services, schools, community organisations and law enforcement work together. By improving awareness, strengthening treatment pathways and listening to people with lived experience, we are helping more people access support earlier and preventing harm wherever possible.”

How will Liverpool continue to reduce ketamine-related harm in the coming year?

Professor Ashton stated:

“Liverpool City Council and its partners will continue to work closely with local organisations, services and community groups to ensure residents can access the right information, advice and support when they need it.”

He added:

“This will include raising awareness of the risks associated with drug and alcohol use, delivering education and training, and expanding outreach and peer support within communities. Schools, youth services, health services and community organisations will continue to work together to help young people and adults access support at the earliest opportunity, with clear pathways into treatment and recovery services.”

Professor Ashton further explained:

“Alongside this, partners will continue to share information and local intelligence to identify emerging issues, target support where it is needed most, and measure the impact of interventions.”

He concluded:

“Regular partnership meetings led by Liverpool’s Combating Drugs Partnership will help coordinate activity, strengthen collaboration across services, and ensure a joined-up approach to reducing harm. Liverpool City Council and its partners will build on this work throughout the year, monitoring progress and taking action where needed to reduce ketamine-related harm and improve outcomes for residents across the city.”

Background of the Ketamine Crisis Development in Liverpool

The ketamine crisis in Liverpool emerged over several years as the drug became increasingly prevalent and easily accessible across the city and the wider country. Medical investigations by the Liverpool Echo revealed young people suffering debilitating bladder damage and devastating mental health crises after becoming addicted to ketamine. A council report from approximately 2025 highlighted a concerning rise in ketamine use among teenagers and young adults, with 14 and 15-year-olds representing the largest cohort seeking support. This prompted the formulation of the Reducing Ketamine Harms Action Plan, officially launched in March 2026, which represents a coordinated multi-agency response involving health services, education, law enforcement and community organisations.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Young People and Families in Liverpool

The early progress reported since March 2026 suggests that the coordinated action plan could significantly reduce ketamine-related harm among young people in Liverpool if sustained. With 241 young people already referred for support and around 200 receiving treatment, the infrastructure appears to be functioning effectively to identify and assist those at risk.

The training of close to 4,000 professionals means that nurses, social workers, teachers and youth justice staff are better equipped to recognise signs of ketamine use and direct young people to appropriate support services. For families, this development could mean earlier intervention before severe health complications such as bladder damage occur, potentially reducing long-term healthcare costs and improving quality of life for affected young people. However, Professor Ashton’s acknowledgment that “there is still much more to do” indicates that continued vigilance and resource allocation will be necessary to maintain momentum and ensure the action plan delivers lasting improvements in outcomes for Liverpool’s young residents.