County Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Joy Allen has issued an urgent call for the Government to reclassify ketamine as a Class A drug, warning that failure to act risks deepening a growing public health and crime crisis.
As the joint national lead for Addictions and Substance Misuse for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, PCC Allen has criticised the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) for recommending that ketamine remain a Class B substance, describing the position as out of step with reality.
PCC Allen said: “This is a crisis waiting to happen – and we can help prevent it. Frontline services are under increasing strain, families are being torn apart, and lives are being permanently damaged.
“To borrow some words from Edmund Burke: ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ The time to act is now.”
Drawing on her engagement with national and local treatment providers and other key partners, PCC Allen highlighted mounting pressure on services responding to ketamine addiction: “Over the past two years, I have spoken to professionals across the country who are witnessing first-hand the devastating consequences of ketamine misuse. The surge in referrals to rehabilitation services has become the norm, underlining the rapidly growing prevalence within our communities.”
PCC Allen emphasised the profound human cost of ketamine addiction, sharing the experience of one mother whose son has suffered irreversible harm: “He can’t even go to the toilet by himself anymore. He does not remember conversations from five minutes ago. I am now his full-time carer.”
She added that such cases are becoming increasingly common, reflecting a deeply concerning trend.
Recent data underscores the scale of the issue. Nearly 300,000 people used ketamine in 2024 — the highest number ever recorded. Among young people aged 16–24, usage has increased by 231% since 2013. More young people are now seeking treatment for ketamine misuse than for cocaine, while over fifty deaths were linked to the drug in 2023.
Government figures also show a sharp rise in treatment demand, with 3,609 adults entering treatment for ketamine misuse in 2023–24, compared to just a few hundred a decade ago.
PCC Allen said: “Ketamine kills. It causes irreversible brain and physical damage and is becoming increasingly popular, particularly among young people. The time to act is now. We must not wait until its use mirrors that of cocaine or other Class A drugs. Drug classification must reflect harm, not prevalence.”
She argued that reclassification to Class A would strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to disrupt illegal supply chains, including coordinated international efforts, while also sending a clear signal about the seriousness of the drug.
In addition, PCC Allen is calling for ketamine to be included as a testable substance under Drug Testing on Arrest powers, alongside legislative changes to expand the range of substances police can detect.
“If we are serious about tackling this issue, we must equip police with the tools they need to intervene early and effectively. This includes expanding testing capabilities and strengthening our legal framework.”
PCC Allen concluded with a direct message to the Government: “The evidence is clear. The harm is indisputable. The consequences of delay are measured in lives damaged and lost. The Government must act decisively - and act now.”
Ends
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