Drug awareness for young people
Government investing £310 million into drug treatment services alongside awareness campaign
Young people are being warned that they risk irreparable bladder damage, poisoning and even death if they take ketamine, synthetic opioids or deliberately contaminated THC vapes, as part of a new anti-drugs campaign.
The campaign targets 16 to 24 years olds and social media users, following a worrying rise in the number of young people being harmed by drugs. There has been an eight-fold increase in the number of people requiring treatment for ketamine since 2015.
Supported by £310 million investment in drug treatment services, this initiative directly supports the government’s Plan for Change mission to reduce serious harm serious harm and protect communities from emerging drug threats.
"Young people don’t always realise the decision to take drugs such as ketamine can have profound effects. It can destroy your bladder and even end your life.
"We’ve seen a worrying rise in people coming to harm from ketamine as well as deliberately contaminated THC vapes and synthetic opioids hidden in fake medicines bought online.
"Prevention is at the heart of this government’s approach to tackling drugs and this campaign will ensure young people have the facts they need to make informed decisions about their health and safety, so they think twice about putting themselves in danger."
Ashley Dalton, Health Minister
Resources
FRANK is a national anti-drug advisory service jointly established by the Department of Health and Home Office. It offers a variety of resources.
- Learn more ketamine - here
- Learn more synthetic opioids - here
- Learn more synthetic and semi-synthetic cannabinoids - here
The following video promotes awareness of the risks of prolonged use of Ketamine.
There are growing concerns about novel synthetic opioids, particularly nitazenes, which are increasingly appearing in counterfeit medicines sold through illegitimate online sources. Users purchasing these products are typically younger and more drug-naïve.
Reports of harms from THC vapes have also increased, with many products containing synthetic cannabinoids (commonly known as ‘spice’) that have higher potency and unpredictable effects.
The following video details the risk of synthetic opioids: what are they and why are they so dangerous
Drug-related risks
Drug poisoning deaths reached 5,448 in England and Wales in 2023, the highest number since records began in 1993. This campaign emphasises that while complete safety requires avoiding drug use altogether, those who may still use substances should be aware of the risks and know how to access help and support.
The campaign underlines that ketamine’s medical applications do not make illicit use safe, with urologists increasingly concerned about young people presenting with severe bladder problems from recreational ketamine use.
Find information and support on drug-related issues
Or call the FRANK helpline on 0300 123 6600