A 27-year-old mother, Amber Currah, has bravely detailed the severe health repercussions stemming from her costly addiction to ketamine. Based in Morecambe, Lancashire, Amber first tried the drug at the age of 17 during a night out with friends.
Within a mere four months, she found herself consuming approximately 25 grams of the class B substance weekly. This excessive intake soon had troubling effects on her bladder, leading to the need for daily incontinence pads.
Amber’s high consumption levels frequently plunged her into a dissociative state, commonly known as being in a “K-Hole.” Unfortunately, sustained ketamine use can seriously damage the bladder lining, causing issues like incontinence, bleeding, infections, and frequent urination.
Despite being ketamine-free for 17 months, Amber continues to deal with significant health challenges, as reported by the Manchester Evening News. She experiences a pressing need to urinate every 15 minutes, and often spends up to eight hours in the bath to relieve bladder pain.
Medical professionals have now indicated that her bladder has shrunk to only one-fifth of its normal size, necessitating surgical intervention.
Amber’s current situation has rendered her unable to work or lead a conventional life, with her asserting that ketamine has “ruined” her existence. “I first tried it when I was 17 during a night out and didn’t like it at first; I felt like a zombie,” she reflected. Later, however, she became more reliant on the drug for its perceived calming effects. “By the time I was 21, I was using it every single day,” she recounted.
Describing her addiction, Amber noted, “I would wake up and sniff a line of ketamine. It took me about two years to realize I was fully addicted to it, spending around £30 a day and consuming 25 grams a week.”
Experts suggest that a ‘heavy’ dose of ketamine is just 150mg, while Amber was consuming over 20 times that amount daily, suffering bodily consequences as a result.
Personal struggles prompted her to spend four hours daily on the toilet and another eight hours in the bath to cope with the frequent bladder discomfort. “I began experiencing symptoms similar to a severe urinary tract infection, but initially, I didn’t correlate it with ketamine use,” she shared.
As her condition worsened, she reached a point of requiring incontinence pads and has been fully incontinent for five years. “I would wet the bed every night. On one instance, I was stuck on the toilet for 26 hours because of the pain,” she revealed.
Having stopped using ketamine for nearly two years, she has been placed on the waiting list for a neobladder procedure, which involves creating a new bladder using a section of her bowel.
Doctors have already revealed the severity of her condition, informing her that her bladder is covered in scar tissue and is prone to infections. They recommended her bladder be removed immediately, emphasizing how critical the situation is.
Amber said, “Following surgery, my bladder should be able to function normally again. If I could do it tomorrow, I’d happily go through it if it means living a health life again.”
With clear regret, she remarked, “I still feel like I am paying for what I did to myself, even after time away from ketamine. If I could prevent anyone from using it, I would. My life has been impacted in every way due to this drug.”
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